2011 Nissan X-Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Nissan X-Trail passed 71.5% of its 14,150 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 24.0% of the time, so this is 4.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 17.2% of all tests — 6.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and joints — ball joint alone was recorded 2,109 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.0% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 2,431 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 1,476 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 906 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.2% | 880 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 809 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 596 |
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 | 2,109 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 1,032 |
| 3 | Joints | 901 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 683 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 472 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 470 |
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 | 33.5% | 4,744 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.9% | 4,380 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.0% | 3,259 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.0% | 1,419 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.7% | 1,227 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 1,075 |
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 | 115 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,037 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,423 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 4,832 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,123 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,620 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,066 | 28.5% |
| Petrol | 84 | 22.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,894 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 2,860 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 2,875 | 28.7% |
| 2024 | 2,839 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 2,682 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 X-Trail
On a 2011 X-Trail, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2011 Nissan X-Trails pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 14,150 2011 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Nissan X-Trail?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by brakes (10.4%).
Does the 2011 X-Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,150 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.