2012 Infiniti M — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 338 MOT tests, the 2012 Infiniti M recorded an 81.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), the 2012 M comes out 2.9pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.8%) and lighting & signalling (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, linkage ball joints and position lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 19 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 21.4% versus 10.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 21.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.8% | 23 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 22 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.5% | 22 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.0% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 16 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 11 |
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 | 19 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joints | 12 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 12 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 11 |
| 6 | Wipers | 10 |
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 | 21.6% | 73 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.5% | 66 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.6% | 63 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 21 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 19 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.0% | 17 |
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 | 30 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 127 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 94 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 173 | 19.1% |
| Diesel | 111 | 18.9% |
| Hybrid | 42 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 79 | 17.7% |
| 2023 | 71 | 15.5% |
| 2024 | 67 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 54 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 M
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.5% 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
How many 2012 Infiniti Ms pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 338 2012 Infiniti M MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Infiniti M?
Suspension, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.5%).
Does the 2012 M get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 30-60k band to 21.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 338 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.