Does the Nissan Leaf fail the MOT on suspension more than it should?
The Nissan Leaf records 6.32 suspension failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.77 expected for a ev of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+1.55, 95% interval +1.44 to +1.67). It ranks 205 of 701 models on suspension (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on suspension · check a Nissan Leaf by registration
What exactly fails on suspension?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Nissan Leaf is “A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn”, recorded 8,576 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 8,576 | 4.90 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 494 | 0.28 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint likely to become detached | 481 | 0.27 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 457 | 0.26 |
| A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 428 | 0.24 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 175,078 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Nissan Leaf gets a suspension advisory, how often does it fail next time?
20.6% of Nissan Leaf MOTs with a suspension advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 5,953 miles later (8,863 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 8,863 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Nissan Leaf 2011 · Nissan Leaf 2012 · Nissan Leaf 2013 · Nissan Leaf 2014 · Nissan Leaf 2015 · Nissan Leaf 2016 · Nissan Leaf 2017 · Nissan Leaf 2018 · Nissan Leaf 2019 · Nissan Leaf 2020 · Nissan Leaf in Finland · Nissan Leaf in Norway · Nissan Leaf in the Netherlands · Nissan Leaf by postcode area · Nissan Leaf body, chassis and structure failures · Nissan Leaf brakes failures · Nissan Leaf vehicle identification failures · Nissan Leaf lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Nissan Leaf road wheels failures · Nissan Leaf seat belts and airbags failures · Nissan Leaf steering failures · Nissan Leaf tyres failures · Nissan Leaf visibility failures