2007 Nissan Pathfinder — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,021 MOT tests, the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder recorded a 68.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 26.7% of the time, so this is 5.0pp 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 (17.3%) and lighting & signalling (16.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and chassis condition — ball joint alone was recorded 739 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.4% in the 30-60k band and 33.9% in the 150k+ band, a 11.5-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.3% | 1,391 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 1,326 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 1,277 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.4% | 673 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 530 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.8% | 461 |
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 | 739 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 638 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 538 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 484 |
| 5 | Joints | 448 |
| 6 | Wheel bearings | 405 |
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 | 33.5% | 2,686 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.5% | 2,285 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.0% | 2,167 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.6% | 1,656 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.9% | 1,275 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 1,126 |
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 | 170 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 779 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,367 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,910 | 33.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,777 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,259 | 31.9% |
| 2022 | 2,014 | 31.8% |
| 2023 | 1,574 | 31.0% |
| 2024 | 1,250 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 924 | 31.3% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Pathfinder
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.3% 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 (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.9% 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 2007 Nissan Pathfinders pass their MOT?
68.3% of the 8,021 2007 Nissan Pathfinder MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder?
Suspension, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.5%).
Does the 2007 Pathfinder get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.4% in the 30-60k band to 33.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,021 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.