2005 Nissan Pathfinder — MOT failures & pass rate
4,203 MOT tests on the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder are in this dataset, and 70.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 1.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.0%) and lighting & signalling (15.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, chassis condition and position lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 371 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.9% versus 25.0%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.8% in 2021 to 27.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.0% | 672 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 654 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 580 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.6% | 403 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 294 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.0% | 252 |
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 | 371 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 370 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 290 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 253 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 213 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 206 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.9% | 1,467 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.2% | 1,226 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.7% | 1,121 |
| 4 | Tyres | 24.1% | 1,014 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 706 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.3% | 434 |
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 | 44 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 222 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 758 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,409 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,768 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,122 | 29.2% |
| Petrol | 81 | 37.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,200 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 997 | 28.7% |
| 2023 | 846 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 660 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 500 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Pathfinder
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.0% 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 (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2005 Nissan Pathfinders pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 4,203 2005 Nissan Pathfinder MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder?
Suspension, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.6%).
Does the 2005 Pathfinder get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 30-60k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,203 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.