2012 Infiniti M35H — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Infiniti M35H passed 82.0% of its 366 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (21.7% fail rate), the 2012 M35H comes out 3.7pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.3%) and brakes (6.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, exhaust system and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 18 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 M35H fails 19.1% of the time in the 30-60k band and 17.4% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.4% in 2021 to 13.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.3% | 23 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 22 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 19 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.9% | 18 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 17 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 10 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Exhaust system | 14 |
| 3 | Wipers | 14 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 13 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 13 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 8 |
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 | 27.1% | 99 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.6% | 90 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.0% | 88 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 20 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.2% | 19 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 16 |
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 | 47 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 136 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 119 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 17.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 171 | 22.2% |
| Petrol | 143 | 14.7% |
| Other | 35 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 76 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 77 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 72 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 68 | 13.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 M35H
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.3% 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.
- Brakes (6.0% 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 (5.2% 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
How many 2012 Infiniti M35Hs pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 366 2012 Infiniti M35H MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Infiniti M35H?
Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by brakes (6.0%).
Does the 2012 M35H get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 30-60k band to 17.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 366 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.