Nissan Patrol MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 42 model years and 6,636 tests, the Nissan Patrol passes its MOT 78.9% of the time. That is 3.4 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.5%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests against 9.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and stop lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 375 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.0% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Patrol model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 95 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 46 | 67.4% | 32.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 63 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 74 | 77.0% | 23.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 161 | 80.8% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 260 | 80.8% | 19.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 132 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 199 | 80.9% | 19.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 197 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 341 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 304 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 334 | 76.3% | 23.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 255 | 75.7% | 24.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 470 | 78.7% | 21.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 588 | 77.5% | 22.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 1,217 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 833 | 77.9% | 22.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 358 | 82.1% | 17.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 301 | 77.4% | 22.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 173 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 76 | 84.2% | 15.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 919 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.3% | 620 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 614 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 475 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 357 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 180 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 179 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.4% | 156 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 375 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 369 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 319 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 307 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 298 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 262 |
| 7 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 244 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 236 |
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 | 35.8% | 2,376 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.3% | 1,878 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 1,253 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.2% | 1,210 |
| 5 | Tyres | 10.4% | 692 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.7% | 644 |
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 | 130 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 376 | 16.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,022 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,680 | 21.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,549 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,855 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,254 | 21.1% |
| Petrol | 382 | 21.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,621 | 21.8% |
| 2022 | 1,475 | 21.4% |
| 2023 | 1,294 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 1,183 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 1,063 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Patrol
- 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 (9.3% 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.
- Suspension (9.3% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Patrol?
78.9% of the 6,636 Nissan Patrol MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.1% fail rate, across model years 1980–2021.
What does the Nissan Patrol most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, then brakes (9.3%).
How much does mileage affect Patrol MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.0% for 150k+, a 6.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,636 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.