2019 Nissan X-Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 25,211 MOT tests, the 2019 Nissan X-Trail recorded an 89.4% pass rate. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 9.5%. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.5%) and tyres (2.9%) 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 malfunction indicator lamp — brake pads alone was recorded 1,327 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.0% versus 7.3%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.7pp more often than petrol ones (11.5% vs 8.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 22.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.5% | 1,129 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.9% | 724 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.6% | 665 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 588 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 506 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 357 |
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 | 1,327 |
| 2 | Wipers | 694 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 477 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 365 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 338 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 229 |
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 | 22.4% | 5,650 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.6% | 4,950 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.4% | 2,123 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 1,651 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 776 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 212 |
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 | 10,539 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 11,803 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,493 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 303 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 54 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 17,419 | 11.5% |
| Petrol | 7,789 | 8.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 139 | 8.6% |
| 2022 | 6,082 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 6,292 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 6,321 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 6,377 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 X-Trail
On a 2019 X-Trail, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (4.5% 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 (2.9% 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 (2.6% 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 2019 Nissan X-Trails pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 25,211 2019 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Nissan X-Trail?
Brakes, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by tyres (2.9%).
Does the 2019 X-Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,211 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.