Infiniti M MOT pass rate & common failures
The Infiniti M appears in 1,089 MOT tests spanning model years 2010–2019, and 83.7% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (21.0% fail rate), the M comes out 4.6pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.0%) and suspension (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and exhaust system — ball joint alone was recorded 43 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.7% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 23.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every M model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 59 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 241 | 88.0% | 12.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 338 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 214 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Brakes |
| 2014 | 219 | 84.5% | 15.5% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 65 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.4% | 59 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.4% | 59 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.6% | 50 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 32 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 30 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 29 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.5% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 43 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 38 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 37 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 36 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 27 |
| 6 | Wipers | 24 |
| 7 | Linkage ball joints | 21 |
| 8 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 17 |
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 | 23.1% | 252 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.7% | 225 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.5% | 223 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 56 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.1% | 56 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 52 |
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 | 154 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 427 | 15.2% |
| 90-120k | 311 | 17.7% |
| 120-150k | 138 | 23.2% |
| 150k+ | 30 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 500 | 15.6% |
| Diesel | 349 | 16.1% |
| Hybrid | 207 | 19.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 224 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 233 | 14.6% |
| 2023 | 229 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 209 | 16.8% |
| 2025 | 194 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a Infiniti M
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (5.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 M?
83.7% of the 1,089 Infiniti M MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 16.4% fail rate, across model years 2010–2019.
What does the Infiniti M most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, then suspension (5.4%).
How much does mileage affect M MOT results?
Fail rates run at 10.4% for cars in the 30-60k band and 26.7% for 150k+, a 16.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,089 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.