Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1992 Nissan Urvan?

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 1992 Nissan Urvan?

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 1992 Nissan Urvan?

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 1992 Nissan Urvan reliable?

Based on MOT data from 244 vehicles, the 1992 Nissan Urvan has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.5%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1992 Nissan Urvan?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1992 Nissan Urvan are: Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine (17.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (16.2% of vehicles), Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (14.9% 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 1992 Nissan Urvan?

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 Urvan (1992)

244 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.5% first-time pass rate

1992 Nissan Urvan

CarHunch analysed 244 real MOT records for the 1992 Nissan Urvan. 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 MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1992 Nissan Urvan is a notably weak performer in MOT terms, with just a 66.5% first-time pass rate against the UK average of 80%—a significant 13.5-point gap that signals consistent reliability challenges. Diesel variants are particularly problematic at 62.4% pass rate versus 69.9% for petrol, so if you're considering one, fuel type matters.

These vehicles are averaging nearly 124,000 miles, which is respectable for their age, yet they're still accumulating 1.34 failures and 4.2 advisories per test—suggesting wear and maintenance issues are catching up fast. Before buying, have a full pre-purchase inspection done by a specialist familiar with this model, because almost one in three won't pass MOT first time, and you'll want to know what you're walking into.

We have limited data for the 1992 Nissan Urvan — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles 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

66.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.34

Over 4.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

99k

Middle half: 79k–128k

For context

These stats describe 244 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 244 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 17.1%

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine

Brake wear 16.2%

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Suspension & steering 14%

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Tyre wear 12%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Wipers & washers 11.8%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Lighting 9.4%

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1992.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 244 Nissan Urvan cars.

Before you buy a 1992 Nissan Urvan

Based on MOT data from 244 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 9% 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 (55%)	134	69.9%	1.13
Diesel (45%)	110	62.4%	1.6

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,551 Nissan Urvan vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 44.9%

697

Blue 26.9%

417

Red 22.2%

344

Green 2%

Gold 1.5%

Black 0.8%

Yellow 0.8%

Silver 0.6%

Beige 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1992 Nissan Urvan 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.

98,749

typical

79,102

low mileage

128,327

high mileage

Half of all 1992 Nissan Urvan vehicles fall between 79,102 and 128,327 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 79,102 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.

✓ 79,102–128,327 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1992 Nissan Urvans sit.

⚠ Over 173,241 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

4.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.34

Avg failures per vehicle

4.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 1992 Nissan Urvan stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on