At a Glance
The Nissan Vanette S21 has 44 identified problems that occur more often than the UK average, with Brake hydraulic component worn being the most reported. Brakes is the most common MOT failure category. The most serious issue flagged is Chassis condition, rated as dangerous. Based on 107K MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on this model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we calculate MOT pass rates and problems →
Below: the full MOT-data picture for the Nissan Vanette S21 — MOT pass rate vs the UK average, common problems vs UK fleet patterns, the most likely MOT failures by frequency, fault occurrence by mileage band, and pass/fail trends. All numbers drawn from DVSA records.
Nissan Vanette S21 MOT Pass Rate
Across 107K MOT tests from DVSA data, the Nissan Vanette S21 (1998–2011) has a fail rate of 54.0%.
UK average fail rate (2006–2011): 38.9%
Common Nissan Vanette S21 Problems
Owner-submitted reports plus patterns we've identified across 559 million UK MOT tests. Each MOT-derived item below — whether tagged as a Problem, Wear & Tear or Consumable — shows up noticeably more often on this generation than across the UK fleet, which is why it's here. Owner reports are pinned to the top by default; use the sort and filter pills below to view a specific tier or change the order.
Brake hydraulic component worn
17,152
occurrences
Suspension component mounting corroded
13,652
occurrences
Brake performance below minimum
12,258
occurrences
Suspension pins, bushes or ball joints worn
8,324
occurrences
Stop lamp not working
5,875
occurrences
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Nissan Vanette S21 owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Nissan Vanette S21 owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
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Problems by mileage
Common problems, MOT failures and advisories on the Nissan Vanette S21, grouped by the mileage they typically appear at.
519 distinct problems · 228,130 total occurrences in current filter
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Advisory items are MOT tester observations. Frequency can be influenced by driving style and usage patterns.
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Other Nissan Vanette Generations
C120
1978–1988
0 problems
C22
1985–1994
5 problems
S20
1994–1999
56 problems
S21
1998–2011
58 problems
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Nissan Vanette S21 problems?
Based on DVSA MOT data for the Nissan Vanette S21 (1998–2011), we have identified 44 common problems. The most frequently reported is "Brake hydraulic component worn". Brakes is the most common MOT failure category.
How reliable is the Nissan Vanette S21?
This generation has 107K MOT tests on record with a 54.0% fail rate. A fault is flagged as a "Common Problem" only when it occurs significantly more often on this model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence.
What commonly fails the MOT on a Nissan Vanette S21?
There are 169 distinct MOT failure types recorded for the S21 (1998–2011), grouped by the mileage these failures typically occur. See the Common MOT Failures section on this page.
Can I report a problem with my Nissan Vanette S21?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Nissan Vanette owners spot problems early. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the public database.
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