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

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 Silvia?

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 Silvia?

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 2002 Nissan Silvia reliable?

Based on MOT data from 131 vehicles, the 2002 Nissan Silvia has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83%, 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 Silvia?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Nissan Silvia are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (13.4% 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 Silvia?

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 Silvia (2002)

131 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83% first-time pass rate

2002 Nissan Silvia

CarHunch analysed 131 real MOT records for the 2002 Nissan Silvia. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2002 Nissan Silvia passes its MOT on the first attempt 83% of the time, just ahead of the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars are holding up reasonably well at this age. However, 13.7% have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a notable concern—not alarming, but worth a pre-purchase inspection.

With a median mileage of 117,000 km for a 22-year-old car, these Silvias are running typical miles for their age, yet they average nearly one failure per test and 4.7 advisories, pointing to cumulative wear on suspension, emissions, and brake components. If you're considering one, budget for repairs and get a full mechanical check before purchase, paying special attention to the exhaust and braking systems.

We have limited data for the 2002 Nissan Silvia — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these cars 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

83%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

13.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.95

Over 4.9 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

117k

Middle half: 76k–149k

For context

These stats describe 131 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.

What tends to go wrong

Based on 131 cars. % = share of cohort with at least one match (advisories + failures combined).

~1 in 6 Tyre wear

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (18.6%) · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13.9%) · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (13.4%) · …

💡 Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. A used-car inspection will confirm how much is left.

~1 in 10 Exhaust & emissions

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (10.3%) · Exhaust noisy (9.8%) · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (6.7%) · …

8.2% Other issues

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.2%)

7.2% Brake wear

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (7.2%)

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

5.7% Suspension & steering

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (5.7%)

💡 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 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 131 Nissan Silvia cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Nissan Silvia

Based on MOT data from 131 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13.7% 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
Petrol (96%)	126	83%	0.95

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Nissan Silvia 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.

116,983

typical

75,848

low mileage

148,771

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Nissan Silvia vehicles fall between 75,848 and 148,771 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 75,848 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.

✓ 75,848–148,771 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Nissan Silvias sit.

⚠ Over 200,840 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 Silvia — Still on the Road

Almost all 2002 Nissan Silvias are still on the road.

Strong survival — 63 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the 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

4.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.95

Avg failures per vehicle

4.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1993 1994 1999 2000 2001

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

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

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