Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Nissan Leaf?

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 2021 Nissan Leaf?

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 2021 Nissan Leaf?

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.

Is the 2021 Nissan Leaf reliable?

Based on MOT data from 7,184 vehicles, the 2021 Nissan Leaf has a first-time MOT pass rate of 93.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Nissan Leaf?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Nissan Leaf are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (0% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (0% of vehicles), Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (0% 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 2021 Nissan Leaf?

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 Leaf (2021)

7,184 real MOT outcomes analysed • 93.5% first-time pass rate

2021 Nissan Leaf

CarHunch analysed 7,184 real MOT records for the 2021 Nissan Leaf. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Nissan Leaf is a genuinely reliable used buy, with a 92.5% first-time pass rate that sits well above the UK average of 80%—and dangerous defects affect only 6.6% of the fleet, which is reassuringly low. These vehicles are racking up modest mileage for their age, with a median of just under 24,000 miles, suggesting careful ownership and minimal wear on powertrain components.

With an average of just 0.21 failures per vehicle and 1.5 advisories, most Leafs encounter only minor maintenance needs—typically brake dust, tire wear, and suspension trim rather than structural problems. If you're considering one, get a full EV battery health check regardless of the MOT result, since the battery is the critical asset on any secondhand electric car and won't always show up in MOT data.

The 2021 Nissan Leaf passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (93.5% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 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

93.5%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

6.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.21

Over 2.4 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

24k

Middle half: 17k–33k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 93.5% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 1.5 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 7,184 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 7,184 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 0%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge

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

Lighting 0%

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 7,184 Nissan Leaf cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Nissan Leaf

Based on MOT data from 7,184 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 6.6% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 52,752 Nissan Leaf vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 22.6%

11,926

White 22.3%

11,779

Grey 21.1%

11,132

Red 18.5%

9,785

Silver 8.1%

4,288

Blue 6.4%

3,399

Bronze 0.6%

332

Green 0.1%

Beige 0.1%

Yellow 0%

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Nissan Leaf 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.

23,997

typical

16,634

low mileage

32,808

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Nissan Leaf vehicles fall between 16,634 and 32,808 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 16,634 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.

✓ 16,634–32,808 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Nissan Leafs sit.

⚠ Over 44,290 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 Nissan Leaf — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 Nissan Leafs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 6,782 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.21

Avg failures per vehicle

1.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Nissan Leaf stacks up against a rival.

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