2012 Nissan Pathfinder — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder passed 70.5% of its 2,739 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), the 2012 Pathfinder comes out 7.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.8%) and suspension (14.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, ball joint and coil spring — headlamp alone was recorded 250 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.0% in the 30-60k band and 33.8% in the 150k+ band, a 10.8-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 434 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.0% | 382 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 220 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 171 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.0% | 164 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 123 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 250 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 247 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 237 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 135 |
| 5 | Joints | 123 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 123 |
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 | 25.7% | 704 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.4% | 641 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.0% | 576 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.7% | 513 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 371 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.9% | 216 |
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 | 296 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 716 | 28.9% |
| 90-120k | 881 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 528 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 290 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 588 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 555 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 543 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 548 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 505 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Pathfinder
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.0% 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 2012 Nissan Pathfinders pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 2,739 2012 Nissan Pathfinder MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.0%).
Does the 2012 Pathfinder get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.0% in the 30-60k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,739 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.