Infiniti Ex MOT pass rate & common failures
The Infiniti Ex appears in 753 MOT tests spanning model years 2005–2015, and 82.6% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 5.2pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.8%) and lighting & signalling (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, ball joint and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 23 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 19.7% versus 15.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Ex model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 36 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 187 | 83.4% | 16.6% | Brakes |
| 2011 | 259 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 158 | 82.9% | 17.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 51 | 86.3% | 13.7% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 56 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.8% | 51 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 44 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 42 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 34 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 22 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.7% | 20 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 12 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.5% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 23 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 22 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 4 | Washers | 19 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 19 |
| 6 | Wipers | 18 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 16 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.0% | 188 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.4% | 184 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.3% | 183 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 64 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.5% | 49 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 37 |
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 | 117 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 328 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 199 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 19.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 596 | 17.3% |
| Petrol | 157 | 17.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 162 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 160 | 17.5% |
| 2023 | 149 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 152 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 130 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a Infiniti Ex
- Brakes (6.8% 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 (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.6% 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 Infiniti Ex?
82.6% of the 753 Infiniti Ex MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 17.4% fail rate, across model years 2005–2015.
What does the Infiniti Ex most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 6.8% of tests, then lighting & signalling (5.8%).
How much does mileage affect Ex MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.4% for cars in the 30-60k band and 19.7% for 120-150k, a 4.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 753 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.