2007 Dodge Nitro — MOT failures & pass rate
1,261 MOT tests on the 2007 Dodge Nitro are in this dataset, and 70.8% of them passed. That is 1.8 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (19.8%) and lighting & signalling (18.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rbt (sp) and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 129 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.8% versus 28.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.8% | 249 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 236 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.8% | 149 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.3% | 80 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.6% | 58 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 58 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 129 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 122 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 90 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 86 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 73 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 67 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.0% | 341 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.0% | 340 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 319 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 203 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.9% | 138 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 125 |
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 | 56 | 28.6% |
| 60-90k | 271 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 524 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 293 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 115 | 34.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 310 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 287 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 280 | 31.8% |
| 2024 | 213 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 171 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Nitro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 19.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (18.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.8% 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
How many 2007 Dodge Nitros pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 1,261 2007 Dodge Nitro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Dodge Nitro?
Brakes, recorded in 19.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.7%).
Does the 2007 Nitro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.6% in the 30-60k band to 34.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,261 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.