2016 Nissan X-Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
88,963 MOT tests on the 2016 Nissan X-Trail are in this dataset, and 83.0% of them passed. That is 3.2 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 13.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.3%) and tyres (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, ball joint and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 4,870 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.5% in the 0-30k band and 23.7% in the 150k+ band, a 14.2-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.7% fail against 17.2% for diesel, a 1.5-point gap across 88,941 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.3% | 5,612 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 4,673 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 4,632 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 3,311 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 2,537 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 1,906 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 4,870 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 4,833 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,609 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2,302 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 1,647 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,618 |
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 | 25.9% | 23,079 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.7% | 22,840 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.6% | 15,650 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.0% | 9,801 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 3,024 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 2,973 |
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 | 5,756 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 37,354 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 32,296 | 19.2% |
| 90-120k | 10,740 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,234 | 24.6% |
| 150k+ | 574 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 78,385 | 17.2% |
| Petrol | 10,556 | 15.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,913 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 17,336 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 17,845 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 18,294 | 19.3% |
| 2025 | 18,575 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2016 X-Trail
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 6.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (6.3% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Brakes (5.2% 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 2016 Nissan X-Trails pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 88,963 2016 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Nissan X-Trail?
Suspension, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2016 X-Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 23.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 88,963 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.