2018 Nissan X-Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Nissan X-Trail passed 88.9% of its 50,297 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.8%) and tyres (3.3%) 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 2,779 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.8% in the 0-30k band and 19.1% in the 150k+ band, a 12.3-point spread — more than double.
The diesel cars hold up better: 10.7% fail against 12.8% for petrol, a 2.1-point gap across 50,284 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.8% | 2,428 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.3% | 1,659 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,368 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 1,045 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 944 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 540 |
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 | 2,779 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,477 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 852 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 649 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 533 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 446 |
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 | 23.6% | 11,884 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.0% | 11,052 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 5,183 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.3% | 4,690 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 1,719 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 652 |
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 | 15,417 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 24,476 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 8,439 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,595 | 17.9% |
| 120-150k | 278 | 13.7% |
| 150k+ | 89 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 41,944 | 10.7% |
| Petrol | 8,340 | 12.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,017 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 9,949 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 10,019 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 10,106 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 10,206 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 X-Trail
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 4.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (4.8% 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 (3.3% 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.
- Visibility (2.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2018 Nissan X-Trails pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 50,297 2018 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Nissan X-Trail?
Brakes, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by tyres (3.3%).
Does the 2018 X-Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,297 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.