2016 Nissan Pulsar 1.5L Diesel · G16 TRD

A clear pattern of recurring component wear advisories runs through the MOT history of this 2016 Nissan Pulsar, even though the car has not suffered a recorded failure across the five tests presented. The most recent examination on 8 July 2026 returned a clean pass with no defects or advisories recorded, which on the surface suggests the braking, suspension, and wheel issues flagged in earlier tests have either been addressed or have not yet deteriorated to advisory level. However, the four preceding tests each carry one or more advisories relating to rear brake pad wear, distorted road wheels, and front suspension arm bush wear. The presence of the same brake pad advisory across both 2024 and 2025 suggests the rear friction material was approaching the replacement threshold during that period, while the front suspension bush advisory from 2024 indicates a wearing component that warrants monitoring as mileage accumulates. With 50,731 miles recorded over a ten-year span, the Pulsar has accumulated roughly 5,000 miles annually, which sits well below the typical usage rate for a car of this age. This modest annual mileage means wear-related components such as brake discs, tyres, and suspension bushes will deteriorate more slowly than on a higher-mileage example, but it also raises the possibility of extended standing periods which can bring their own concerns, particularly around dried brake fluid, seized caliper slide pins, and deterioration of rubber components through lack of regular use. The mileage progression across the five tests appears consistent with steady, light use rather than any abrupt jumps, and there are no notable gaps in the testing record, suggesting the vehicle has remained in regular road use throughout the period covered. For a prospective buyer, the rear brake system is the most obvious area to scrutinise given that rear pad wear was flagged on two consecutive tests in 2024 and 2025, and a near-side rear parking brake effort low advisory was also issued in 2025. On a test drive, listen for any scraping or grinding from the rear wheels, particularly on light application of the footbrake, and assess whether the handbrake holds the vehicle securely on an incline without requiring excessive lever travel, as low parking brake effort can indicate stretched rear cables, worn internal shoe mechanisms, or a caliper sticking off. Inspect the rear brake discs for an obvious lip at the outer edge and for any signs of surface corrosion, which is common on lightly used vehicles and can lead to pedal judder or pulsation under braking. The suspension and wheel advisories also deserve focused attention during any physical inspection and test drive. The offside front suspension arm bush flagged in 2024 can produce a knocking or clonking noise over speed humps, uneven road surfaces, or when turning at low speed, and the wear may have progressed since that advisory was issued. The distorted road wheel advisories from 2023 and 2024, including an inner rim damaged in two places on the near-side front, warrant a careful visual check of all four wheels for cracks, buckles, or impact damage, as a distorted wheel can cause vibration through the steering wheel at speed and may have worsened over time. Finally, the tyre pressure monitoring system light being illuminated at the 2025 test should be verified as resolved, and the current set of tyres should be inspected for age-related sidewall cracking given the low annual mileage, which can leave tyres ageing in place rather than wearing out.