2004 Nissan Patrol — MOT failures & pass rate
1,217 MOT tests on the 2004 Nissan Patrol are in this dataset, and 78.6% of them passed. That is 3.9 percentage points better than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 25.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests against 10.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, rigid brake pipes and position lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 81 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2004 Patrol fails 19.4% of the time in the 30-60k band and 22.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.5% in 2021 to 19.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 176 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.5% | 128 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.9% | 120 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.8% | 71 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 69 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.4% | 29 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 81 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 81 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 76 |
| 4 | Wipers | 52 |
| 5 | Wheel bearings | 48 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 47 |
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 | 39.7% | 483 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.5% | 371 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.2% | 222 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 188 |
| 5 | Tyres | 10.4% | 127 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.2% | 112 |
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 | 36 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 177 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 309 | 22.0% |
| 120-150k | 307 | 18.2% |
| 150k+ | 375 | 22.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 277 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 261 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 255 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 222 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 202 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Patrol
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.5% 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.
- Brakes (9.9% 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 2004 Nissan Patrols pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 1,217 2004 Nissan Patrol MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Nissan Patrol?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.5%).
Does the 2004 Patrol get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 30-60k band to 22.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,217 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.