2008 Nissan X-Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
22,074 MOT tests on the 2008 Nissan X-Trail are in this dataset, and 69.2% of them passed. That is 3.9 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 17.6% of all tests — 4.9 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint and position lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 2,638 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.0% versus 20.8%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.6pp more often than petrol ones (31.0% vs 28.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.6% | 3,893 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 2,808 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 2,517 |
| 4 | Steering | 10.2% | 2,260 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 1,234 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 1,205 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 2,638 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 2,395 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,689 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,513 |
| 5 | Joints | 1,051 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,038 |
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 | 40.3% | 8,897 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.9% | 7,482 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.5% | 5,627 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 3,177 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.4% | 2,516 |
| 6 | Steering | 11.1% | 2,445 |
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 | 48 | 20.8% |
| 30-60k | 658 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,933 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 6,805 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 7,088 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 4,533 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,038 | 31.0% |
| Petrol | 1,036 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,091 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 4,935 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 4,529 | 31.1% |
| 2024 | 4,033 | 31.9% |
| 2025 | 3,486 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 X-Trail
On a 2008 X-Trail, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.6% 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 (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 2008 Nissan X-Trails pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 22,074 2008 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Nissan X-Trail?
Suspension, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.7%).
Does the 2008 X-Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,074 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.