Nissan D21 (1991)

247 real MOT outcomes analysed • 62.2% first-time pass rate

1991 Nissan D21

CarHunch analysed 247 real MOT records for the 1991 Nissan D21. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 17.8% below UK average
62.2%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
129,133
typical mileage
104,465–163,273 middle half
15.8%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.74
avg MOT failures per car
over 4.8 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1991 Nissan D21

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Nissan D21

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (68%) 167 64.7% 1.8
Petrol (32%) 80 57.2% 1.63

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Nissan D21 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

104,465
low mileage
129,133
typical
163,273
high mileage

Half of all 1991 Nissan D21 vehicles fall between 104,465 and 163,273 miles.

MOT History Averages

4.8
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.74
Avg failures per vehicle
4.7
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1991 Nissan D21

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 16.7%
    Offside Rear fog lamp not working
  • 15.5%
    Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 14.3%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 14%
    Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine
  • 11.7%
    Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 11.5%
    Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel
  • 11.2%
    Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 11.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Nissan D21?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Nissan D21:

1987 1988 1989 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998