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

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 Navara?

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 Navara?

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 Navara vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 Navara reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,424 vehicles, the 2002 Nissan Navara has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Nissan Navara?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Nissan Navara are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (62.5% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (59.7% 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 Navara?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Nissan Navara (2002)

1,424 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.7% first-time pass rate

2002 Nissan Navara

CarHunch analysed 1,424 real MOT records for the 2002 Nissan Navara. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

The 2002 Nissan Navara passes its MOT first time in only 73.7% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly 29% of these vehicles have been flagged for dangerous defects at some point — a significant concern for a buyer. This is a genuinely unreliable truck by modern standards, and the diesel engines show no advantage, passing at a near-identical 73.8%.

At around 90,000 miles median, these Navaras have typical mileage for their age, yet they're still racking up nearly 4 failures and 21 advisories per vehicle on average — suggesting wear and neglect are catching up fast. If you're considering one, budget for immediate work on brakes, suspension and emissions systems, and have a pre-purchase inspection specifically focused on structural rust and the engine bay before you commit.

The 2002 Nissan Navara has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.7% 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

73.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

28.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.96

Over 14 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

90k

Middle half: 72k–108k

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 20.9 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 1,424 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 1,424 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 62.5%

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

Suspension & steering 59.7%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 48.7%

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Other issues 29.5%

Oil leak

Lighting 25.5%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

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 1,424 Nissan Navara cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Nissan Navara

Based on MOT data from 1,424 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.9% 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 (99%)	1,416	73.8%	3.96

Colour Breakdown

Based on 125,950 Nissan Navara vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 32.8%

41,345

Grey 22.8%

28,722

Silver 18%

22,708

Blue 10.1%

12,687

White 9.9%

12,506

Red 2.8%

3,523

Yellow 1.4%

1,777

Green 1.2%

1,449

Bronze 0.6%

716

Beige 0.3%

343

Orange 0.1%

111

Brown 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Nissan Navara 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.

89,767

typical

72,492

low mileage

108,161

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Nissan Navara vehicles fall between 72,492 and 108,161 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 72,492 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.

✓ 72,492–108,161 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Nissan Navaras sit.

⚠ Over 146,017 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 Navara — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 8% of 2002 Nissan Navaras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 71 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (8% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.96

Avg failures per vehicle

20.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on