2010 Nissan X-Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
9,705 MOT tests on the 2010 Nissan X-Trail are in this dataset, and 70.1% of them passed. That is 4.6 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 25.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 18.3% of tests against 10.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and joints — ball joint alone was recorded 1,341 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.6% versus 11.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.3% | 1,775 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 1,022 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 920 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.0% | 779 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 630 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 508 |
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 | 1,341 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 901 |
| 3 | Joints | 598 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 578 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 571 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 373 |
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 | 37.9% | 3,673 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.5% | 3,253 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.4% | 2,266 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.0% | 1,067 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 899 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.0% | 878 |
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 | 35 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 480 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,846 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 3,392 | 30.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,527 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,416 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,637 | 29.9% |
| Petrol | 68 | 20.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,046 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 2,007 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 1,961 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 1,935 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 1,756 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 X-Trail
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 18.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (18.3% 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.
- Brakes (10.5% 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 (9.5% 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
How many 2010 Nissan X-Trails pass their MOT?
70.1% of the 9,705 2010 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Nissan X-Trail?
Suspension, recorded in 18.3% of tests, followed by brakes (10.5%).
Does the 2010 X-Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,705 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.