2013 Nissan Pathfinder — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,697 MOT tests, the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder recorded a 71.3% pass rate. That is 8.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.0%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.9%) and lighting & signalling (13.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, ball joint and headlamp — coil spring alone was recorded 285 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 2.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.5% once past 150k — 10.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 21.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.9% | 375 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 374 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.9% | 160 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 154 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 127 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 122 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 285 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 213 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 171 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 113 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 112 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 100 |
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 | 21.3% | 575 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.8% | 561 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.6% | 529 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 320 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 303 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.7% | 208 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 34 | 2.9% |
| 30-60k | 350 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 995 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 862 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 303 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 146 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 565 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 535 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 550 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 536 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 511 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Pathfinder
On a 2013 Pathfinder, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.9% 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 (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.9% 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.
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 2013 Nissan Pathfinders pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 2,697 2013 Nissan Pathfinder MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?
Suspension, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.9%).
Does the 2013 Pathfinder get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,697 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.