Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Nissan Interstar?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2002 Nissan Interstar?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2002 Nissan Interstar?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2002 Nissan Interstar vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

40% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2002 Nissan Interstar reliable?

Based on MOT data from 474 vehicles, the 2002 Nissan Interstar has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.9%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Nissan Interstar?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Nissan Interstar are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (142.6% of vehicles), Service brake: efficiency below requirements (81.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2002 Nissan Interstar?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Nissan Interstar (2002)

474 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.9% first-time pass rate

2002 Nissan Interstar

CarHunch analysed 474 real MOT records for the 2002 Nissan Interstar. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 474 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2002 Nissan Interstar is a significantly weaker MOT performer than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 67% against the national 80%, and a serious red flag: 40% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point. This is a commercial van that demands careful inspection before purchase, as the failure rate suggests systemic issues rather than random wear.

These Interstars average nearly 96,000 miles, which is substantial for a 22-year-old vehicle, and owners can expect roughly 4–5 failures and 16 advisories per test cycle—indicating maintenance is both frequent and necessary. If you're considering one, have an independent inspection performed with particular attention to the structural and braking systems, where dangerous defects cluster on this model.

The 2002 Nissan Interstar has a below-average first-time pass rate (66.9% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

66.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

40.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.6

Over 13.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

91k

Middle half: 70k–117k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 474 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 474 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 142.6%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 53.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 51.7%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Wipers & washers 30%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Lighting 26.4%

Centre Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 474 Nissan Interstar cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Nissan Interstar

Based on MOT data from 474 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 40.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (100%)	473	66.9%	4.6

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,859 Nissan Interstar vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 62.7%

1,794

Blue 14.4%

412

Silver 13.2%

377

Red 6.2%

178

Green 1.1%

Yellow 1%

Grey 0.7%

Black 0.4%

Multi-colour 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Nissan Interstar vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

90,998

typical

70,262

low mileage

116,878

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Nissan Interstar vehicles fall between 70,262 and 116,878 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 70,262 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 70,262–116,878 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Nissan Interstars sit.

⚠ Over 157,785 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Nissan Interstar — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 14% of 2002 Nissan Interstars are still active.

Numbers are declining — 29 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (14% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.6

Avg failures per vehicle

16.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Nissan Interstar: All Interstar years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Nissan Interstar stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on