Nissan Terrano (1996)

2,812 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65.9% first-time pass rate

1996 Nissan Terrano

CarHunch analysed 2,812 real MOT records for the 1996 Nissan Terrano. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 14.1% below UK average
65.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
114,619
typical mileage
97,247–135,000 middle half
26.9%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
3.27
avg MOT failures per car
over 9 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1996 Nissan Terrano

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.
  • ⚠️ 26.9% 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 Terrano

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
Diesel (83%) 2,348 66% 3.29
Petrol (16%) 458 65.2% 3.19
LPG (0%) 6 55.4% 3.17

Mileage Distribution

Most 1996 Nissan Terrano 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.

97,247
low mileage
114,619
typical
135,000
high mileage

Half of all 1996 Nissan Terrano vehicles fall between 97,247 and 135,000 miles.

1996 Nissan Terrano — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 30 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (6% of peak).

531 30 2014 2022

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.

MOT History Averages

9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.27
Avg failures per vehicle
11.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1996 Nissan Terrano

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

  • 48.3%
    Fuel pipe/s corroded
  • 43.4%
    Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play
  • 42.4%
    Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play
  • 31%
    Oil leak
  • 30.8%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 30.2%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 29.8%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 29.5%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Nissan Terrano?

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

UK

Other model years — Nissan Terrano:

1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006