2017 Nissan X-Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Nissan X-Trail passed 85.8% of its 98,858 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), the 2017 X-Trail comes out 2.3pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.4%) and tyres (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 5,788 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.5% in the 0-30k band and 22.4% in the 150k+ band, a 13.9-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 14.1% of the time against 15.0% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.4% | 5,318 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 4,305 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.7% | 3,684 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 2,871 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 2,613 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 1,908 |
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 | 5,788 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,778 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,732 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 2,420 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,620 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,373 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 25.6% | 25,268 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.3% | 24,069 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.5% | 13,354 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.0% | 9,833 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 3,319 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 2,829 |
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 | 13,584 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 49,493 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 27,541 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 6,706 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,185 | 22.6% |
| 150k+ | 340 | 22.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 82,913 | 14.1% |
| Petrol | 15,929 | 15.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,179 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 19,357 | 12.1% |
| 2023 | 19,637 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 20,055 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 20,630 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 X-Trail
On a 2017 X-Trail, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Suspension (3.7% 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.
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 2017 Nissan X-Trails pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 98,858 2017 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Nissan X-Trail?
Brakes, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2017 X-Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 22.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 98,858 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.