2006 Nissan Pathfinder — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Nissan Pathfinder passed 68.5% of its 7,495 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.2% fail rate), the 2006 Pathfinder comes out 4.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.7%) and lighting & signalling (17.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are chassis condition, ball joint and position lamp — chassis condition alone was recorded 744 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.7% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.7% | 1,324 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 1,285 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 1,170 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.1% | 683 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 519 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.8% | 507 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 744 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 718 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 605 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 496 |
| 5 | Wheel bearings | 414 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 410 |
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 | 36.8% | 2,760 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.3% | 2,198 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.6% | 2,141 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.1% | 1,728 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 1,229 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.8% | 810 |
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 | 76 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 384 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,409 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,626 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,984 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,441 | 31.5% |
| Petrol | 54 | 25.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,181 | 31.6% |
| 2022 | 1,884 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 1,470 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 1,123 | 32.2% |
| 2025 | 837 | 32.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Pathfinder
On a 2006 Pathfinder, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.7% 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 (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.6% 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 2006 Nissan Pathfinders pass their MOT?
68.5% of the 7,495 2006 Nissan Pathfinder MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder?
Suspension, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.1%).
Does the 2006 Pathfinder get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 30-60k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,495 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.