Know Your MOT
33.6%fail rate

Datsun Sunny common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Datsun Sunny fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 336 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 33.6% of MOT tests recorded on the Datsun Sunny in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is suspension, which makes up 47.8% of the Datsun Sunny's failures, followed by suspension, lamps & electrical, other, exhaust & emissions. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Suspension47.8% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

Lamps & electrical34.5% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Other23.0% of failures

This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.

Exhaust & emissions23.0% of failures

Exhaust failures cover leaks, insecure mountings and emissions over the limit. A blowing exhaust, a failed lambda reading or a diesel that smokes beyond the limit will fail.

Brakes20.4% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Seat belts15.9% of failures

Seat-belt failures are frays, cuts, corroded anchorages, or a belt that will not lock under a sharp pull or retract properly.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the suspension failure: Datsun Sunny suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Datsun Sunny suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Datsun Sunny suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Datsun Sunny headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Datsun Sunny headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Datsun Sunny headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: Datsun Sunny exhaustSearch Amazon for Datsun Sunny exhaustaffiliate searchFind Datsun Sunny exhaust on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: Datsun Sunny brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Datsun Sunny brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Datsun Sunny brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the seat belts failure: Datsun Sunny seat beltsSearch Amazon for Datsun Sunny seat beltsaffiliate searchFind Datsun Sunny seat belts on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Datsun 240z MOT failures20.4% failure rateDatsun 260z MOT failures25.0% failure rateDatsun 120y MOT failures26.3% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain