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Nissan Sunny (1990)

6,336 real MOT outcomes analysed • 59.7% first-time pass rate

1990 Nissan Sunny

CarHunch analysed 6,336 real MOT records for the 1990 Nissan Sunny. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 20.3% below UK average
59.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
89,495
typical mileage
69,189–111,462 middle half
9.1%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.59
avg MOT failures per car
over 4.4 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1990 Nissan Sunny

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.
  • 📄 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 Sunny

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying →

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (99%) 6,288 59.8% 1.59
Diesel (1%) 47 40.2% 0.83
Electric (0%) 1 61.5% 10

Mileage Distribution

Most 1990 Nissan Sunny 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.

69,189
low mileage
89,495
typical
111,462
high mileage

Half of all 1990 Nissan Sunny vehicles fall between 69,189 and 111,462 miles.

1990 Nissan Sunny — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 47 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% of peak).

272 47 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

4.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.59
Avg failures per vehicle
3.8
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1990 Nissan Sunny

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

  • 27.8%
    Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 21.9%
    Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 17.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 16.9%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 15.3%
    Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
  • 14.5%
    Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
  • 14%
    Oil leak
  • 13.8%
    Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1990. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Nissan Sunny?

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

UK

Other model years — Nissan Sunny:

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997