Nissan X-Trail MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 26 model years and 567,982 tests, the Nissan X-Trail passes its MOT 79.2% of the time. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (17.8% fail rate), the X-Trail comes out 3.0pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
Best and worst X-Trail years
Ranked across X-Trail years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2020 cars pass 90.7% of the time while 2006 cars manage 67.8%, a 22.9-point spread.
No single area dominates — suspension (9.9%) and brakes (7.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, brake pads and track rod end — ball joint alone was recorded 38,116 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.8% in the 0-30k band and 34.4% in the 150k+ band, a 26.6-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 16.6pp more often than hybrid ones (21.3% vs 4.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every X-Trail model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 493 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 3,485 | 69.6% | 30.4% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 10,826 | 68.1% | 31.9% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 19,021 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 29,040 | 69.0% | 31.0% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 34,365 | 67.8% | 32.2% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 28,996 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 22,074 | 69.2% | 30.9% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 13,658 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 9,705 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 14,150 | 71.5% | 28.5% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 11,135 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 10,208 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Suspension |
| 2014 | 24,284 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Suspension |
| 2015 | 50,946 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Suspension |
| 2016 | 88,963 | 83.0% | 17.0% | Suspension |
| 2017 | 98,858 | 85.8% | 14.2% | Brakes |
| 2018 | 50,297 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Brakes |
| 2019 | 25,211 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Brakes |
| 2020 | 16,146 | 90.7% | 9.3% | Brakes |
| 2021 | 5,237 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Brakes |
| 2022 | 583 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 228 | 96.0% | 4.0% | Tyres |
| 2024 | 49 | 93.9% | 6.1% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.9% | 56,205 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.5% | 42,589 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 35,295 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.2% | 23,909 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 20,446 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.2% | 18,212 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 18,076 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 15,647 |
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 | 38,116 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 25,738 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 19,876 |
| 4 | Wipers | 15,609 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 15,475 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 15,067 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 14,645 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 12,210 |
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 | 29.6% | 167,932 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.6% | 139,948 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.4% | 138,690 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.3% | 58,477 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 38,027 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 36,128 |
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 | 59,242 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 162,221 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 137,872 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 99,164 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 68,035 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 41,257 | 34.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 482,079 | 21.3% |
| Petrol | 84,933 | 18.1% |
| Hybrid | 960 | 4.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114,215 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 115,470 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 115,883 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 113,091 | 21.2% |
| 2025 | 109,323 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a Nissan X-Trail
- Suspension (9.9% 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.
- Brakes (7.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 X-Trail?
79.2% of the 567,982 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.8% fail rate, across model years 2000–2025.
What does the Nissan X-Trail most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 9.9% of tests, then brakes (7.5%).
Which X-Trail years are best and worst for MOT results?
2020 has the best pass rate at 90.7% and 2006 the weakest at 67.8%, from 16,146 and 34,365 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect X-Trail MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 34.4% for 150k+, a 26.6-point difference.
Is the hybrid or diesel X-Trail more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the hybrid fails 4.7% of the time against 21.3% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 567,982 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.