2015 Nissan X-Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
50,946 MOT tests on the 2015 Nissan X-Trail are in this dataset, and 79.6% of them passed. That is 4.5 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 15.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 10.6% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, brake pads and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 4,921 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.6% versus 8.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.9pp more often than petrol ones (20.6% vs 16.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 26.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.6% | 5,388 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 2,709 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.2% | 2,670 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 2,174 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 1,391 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 1,300 |
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 | 4,921 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 2,638 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,752 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,453 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,170 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,007 |
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 | 26.7% | 13,602 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.1% | 13,278 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.6% | 12,018 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.2% | 6,223 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.8% | 2,443 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 1,710 |
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 | 1,329 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 14,524 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 21,233 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 10,196 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,725 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 933 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 47,480 | 20.6% |
| Petrol | 3,438 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,612 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 9,994 | 18.4% |
| 2023 | 10,357 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 10,409 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 10,574 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 X-Trail
On a 2015 X-Trail, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.6% 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.
- Brakes (5.3% 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.
- Tyres (5.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2015 Nissan X-Trails pass their MOT?
79.6% of the 50,946 2015 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Nissan X-Trail?
Suspension, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by brakes (5.3%).
Does the 2015 X-Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,946 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.