2009 Nissan X-Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Nissan X-Trail passed 70.4% of its 13,658 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2009 X-Trail comes out 3.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests against 12.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint and position lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 1,541 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.2% in the 0-30k band and 32.9% in the 150k+ band, a 24.7-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 2,348 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 1,654 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.4% | 1,423 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.6% | 1,306 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 740 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 661 |
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 | 1,541 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,524 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 992 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 812 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 672 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 546 |
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 | 39.3% | 5,372 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.7% | 4,468 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.2% | 3,444 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 1,754 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.1% | 1,516 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.5% | 1,301 |
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 | 73 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 669 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,498 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,727 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 3,658 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,027 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,406 | 29.6% |
| Petrol | 245 | 28.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,960 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 2,972 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 2,796 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 2,633 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 2,297 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 X-Trail
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.2% 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 (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.4% 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 2009 Nissan X-Trails pass their MOT?
70.4% of the 13,658 2009 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Nissan X-Trail?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.1%).
Does the 2009 X-Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,658 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.