Dodge Nitro MOT pass rate & common failures
The Dodge Nitro appears in 8,003 MOT tests spanning model years 2007–2020, and 71.0% of them passed. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.7%. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (19.8%) and lighting & signalling (18.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), position lamp and ball joint — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 798 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 24.6% in the 30-60k band and 33.1% in the 150k+ band, a 8.5-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Nitro model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1,261 | 70.8% | 29.2% | Brakes |
| 2008 | 3,851 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Brakes |
| 2009 | 2,866 | 70.6% | 29.4% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.8% | 1,588 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 1,474 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.6% | 851 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.7% | 454 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 353 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.3% | 340 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 214 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 136 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 798 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 731 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 505 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 458 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 413 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 387 |
| 7 | Headlamp aim | 369 |
| 8 | Parking brake performance | 362 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.5% | 2,198 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.2% | 2,099 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.5% | 1,959 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 1,205 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 773 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.6% | 770 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 576 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,217 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 3,109 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,550 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 525 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,554 | 29.3% |
| Petrol | 449 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,899 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 1,804 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 1,678 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 1,427 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 1,195 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a Dodge Nitro
- Brakes (19.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Dodge Nitro?
71.0% of the 8,003 Dodge Nitro MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.0% fail rate, across model years 2007–2020.
What does the Dodge Nitro most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 19.8% of tests, then lighting & signalling (18.4%).
How much does mileage affect Nitro MOT results?
Fail rates run at 24.6% for cars in the 30-60k band and 33.1% for 150k+, a 8.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,003 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.