Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 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 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Nissan Navara vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% 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 2018 Nissan Navara reliable?

Based on MOT data from 8,770 vehicles, the 2018 Nissan Navara has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Nissan Navara?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Nissan Navara are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (39.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (33.6% 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 2018 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.

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Nissan Navara (2018)

8,770 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.7% first-time pass rate

2018 Nissan Navara

CarHunch analysed 8,770 real MOT records for the 2018 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? →

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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

The 2018 Nissan Navara's 81.2% first-time pass rate sits just above the UK average, suggesting broadly average reliability, but the concerning figure here is that 26.1% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—significantly higher than typical and a red flag for potential safety issues you'll want to inspect carefully. With nearly all examples being diesel, there's no meaningful fuel-type comparison to draw.

At 57,891 miles median, these Navaras are running relatively light for their age, yet they're still averaging 1.16 failures per test and 5.3 advisories, indicating that wear-related issues are cropping up steadily even at modest mileage. Before buying, run a detailed pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension, braking, and electrical components—the high dangerous-defect rate suggests these areas deserve particular scrutiny on any example you're considering.

The 2018 Nissan Navara has a decent first-time pass rate (82.7%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

82.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

26.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.16

Over 5.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

58k

Middle half: 41k–80k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.3 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 8,770 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 8,770 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 39.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Tyre wear 37%

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

Other issues 30.3%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · …

Suspension & steering 20.9%

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 8,770 Nissan Navara cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Nissan Navara

Based on MOT data from 8,770 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26.1% 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%)	8,768	82.7%	1.16

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 2018 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.

57,891

typical

41,449

low mileage

79,681

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Nissan Navara vehicles fall between 41,449 and 79,681 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 41,449 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.

✓ 41,449–79,681 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Nissan Navaras sit.

⚠ Over 107,569 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Nissan Navara — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Nissan Navaras are still on the road.

Strong survival — 7,579 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 92% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.16

Avg failures per vehicle

5.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Nissan Navara stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing