Infiniti M35H MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 3 model years and 556 tests, the Infiniti M35H passes its MOT 84.5% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (21.2% fail rate), the M35H comes out 5.7pp better. Its most common failure areas are brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.6%) and tyres (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the M35H fails 14.9% of the time in the 30-60k band and 15.9% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.3% in 2021 to 11.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every M35H model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 366 | 82.0% | 18.0% | Tyres |
| 2013 | 171 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.6% | 31 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.4% | 30 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 22 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 22 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.0% | 22 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 10 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 3 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.5% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 23 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 16 |
| 3 | Wipers | 15 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 14 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 13 |
| 6 | Washers | 10 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 9 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
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 | 28.1% | 156 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.4% | 130 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.2% | 129 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 29 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.0% | 28 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 22 |
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 | 94 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 213 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 163 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 63 | 15.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 258 | 19.0% |
| Petrol | 241 | 12.0% |
| Other | 35 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 113 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 117 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 113 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 110 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 103 | 11.7% |
What to check before buying a Infiniti M35H
- Brakes (5.6% 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.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 M35H?
84.5% of the 556 Infiniti M35H MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 15.5% fail rate, across model years 2011–2013.
What does the Infiniti M35H most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 5.6% of tests, then tyres (5.4%).
How much does mileage affect M35H MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.9% for cars in the 30-60k band and 15.9% for 120-150k, a 1.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 556 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.