Nissan Primera (2002)
2002 Nissan Primera
CarHunch analysed 15,366 real MOT records for the 2002 Nissan Primera. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2002 Nissan Primera is below the UK average, with a 73% first-time pass rate compared to 80% nationally—and worryingly, nearly one in four of these cars has recorded a dangerous defect during its MOT history, which is well above acceptable levels for a buyer. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly (73.3% and 71.2% respectively), suggesting the reliability issue spans the range.
At 69,000 miles median, these Primeras have covered a reasonable distance for their age, but they're generating an average of 3.56 failures and 14.5 advisories per test, indicating systemic wear and maintenance neglect. If you're considering one, a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist is essential—focus particularly on brake, suspension, and emissions components, which typically dominate the failure list on this generation.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.1 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2002 Nissan Primera
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.
- ⚠️ 24.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 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 Primera
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (85%) | 13,103 | 73.3% | 3.57 |
| Diesel (14%) | 2,228 | 71.2% | 3.53 |
| LPG (0%) | 30 | 74.5% | 3.3 |
| Other (0%) | 3 | 66.7% | 0.67 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 66.7% | 4 |
| LNG (0%) | 1 | 73.3% | 4 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 Nissan Primera 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.
Half of all 2002 Nissan Primera vehicles fall between 55,278 and 85,383 miles.
2002 Nissan Primera — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 415 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 Nissan Primera
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
67%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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62.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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43.5%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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40.9%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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39%
Oil leak
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35.5%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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30.7%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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29.8%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Nissan Primera?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.