Nissan Pulsar (2016)

6,375 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.6% first-time pass rate

2016 Nissan Pulsar

CarHunch analysed 6,375 real MOT records for the 2016 Nissan Pulsar. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 5.6% above UK average
85.6%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
36,278
typical mileage
26,401–47,683 middle half
37.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.33
avg MOT failures per car
over 8.2 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 4.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

87.3%
Petrol
3,945 vehicles
82.8%
Diesel
2,429 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2016 Nissan Pulsar

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.
  • ⚠️ 37.7% 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 Pulsar

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 (62%) 3,945 87.3% 1.15
Diesel (38%) 2,429 82.8% 1.62
Other (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Nissan Pulsar 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.

26,401
low mileage
36,278
typical
47,683
high mileage

Half of all 2016 Nissan Pulsar vehicles fall between 26,401 and 47,683 miles.

2016 Nissan Pulsar — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 5,881 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 96% of the peak.

6,124 5,881 2019 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.

MOT History Averages

8.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.33
Avg failures per vehicle
8.4
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2016 Nissan Pulsar

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 45.1%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 41.6%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 36.7%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 33.8%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 27.8%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 27.3%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 14.2%
    Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()
  • 13.6%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Nissan Pulsar?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Nissan Pulsar:

1991 1992 1993 2014 2015 2017 2018