Nissan X-Trail reliability by year, 2002 to 2021
270,199 Nissan X-Trails went through an MOT in the period we analysed, and 70.2% passed. Set against the 71.7% national pass rate, that is a weaker result than most on the raw numbers. Compared only with cars tested at the same age, the X-Trail is 2.8 points behind, so the model itself is below average, not just old. At its first MOT, at three years old, 87.8% of X-Trails pass; the national figure for three-year-old cars is 87.9%. The most common reason for a fail is a worn ball joint.
Why Nissan X-Trails fail the MOT
Of every hundred X-Trails that fail, about 20 are marked down for a worn ball joint and 16 for brake pads worn below 1.5mm. Percentages can add to more than 100 because one failed test often records several defects.
Suspension failures are the hard ones to see coming: a snapped coil spring or a worn ball joint gives little warning. Knocks over speed bumps are the clue.
Warning signs on the certificate
An advisory is the tester telling you what fails next year. On the X-Trail the usual suspects are tyre tread below the legal minimum (16.1% of tests) and brake pads worn below 1.5mm (13.7%). How often each category of advisory turns into a failure is measured across the whole dataset.
X-Trail pass rate by fuel
Among Nissan X-Trail cars, petrol versions pass 75.7% of the time and diesel versions 69.1%, a gap of 6.6 points. Diesels tend to be bought for high mileage, which shows up at the test as wear.
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 69.1% | 224,976 |
| Petrol | 75.7% | 44,073 |
Pass rate by year of first use
Pass rates run from 54.9% for 2002 cars to 87.3% for 2021 cars. Most of that spread is age: a car tested at ten years old has had far more chances to wear something out than one tested at four.
| First used | Pass rate | Tests | Miles a year | First MOT pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan X-Trail 2021 | 87.3% | 4,717 | 8,845 | 87.9% |
| Nissan X-Trail 2020 | 87% | 14,284 | 8,365 | 87.8% |
| Nissan X-Trail 2019 | 84% | 16,796 | 8,016 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2018 | 83% | 26,403 | 8,663 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2017 | 78% | 50,609 | 8,966 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2016 | 72.7% | 44,182 | 8,975 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2015 | 67.6% | 24,342 | 9,229 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2014 | 65.3% | 11,400 | 8,981 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2013 | 63.6% | 4,694 | 8,357 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2012 | 59.8% | 4,948 | 8,443 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2011 | 56.4% | 6,082 | 8,667 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2010 | 52.5% | 4,064 | 8,509 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2009 | 52.8% | 5,591 | 7,919 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2008 | 51.2% | 8,678 | 7,971 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2007 | 51.8% | 10,802 | 7,375 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2006 | 50.9% | 12,138 | 7,003 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2005 | 53.3% | 9,737 | 6,769 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2004 | 52% | 6,188 | 6,325 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2003 | 53.6% | 3,452 | 5,820 | – |
| Nissan X-Trail 2002 | 54.9% | 1,092 | 5,181 | – |
Pass rate by mileage
On the 2017 cars, a X-Trail under 40,000 miles passes 85.5% of the time; one over 100,000 passes 67.8%. When comparing two used X-Trails, the odometer tells you more than the year.
| Mileage at test (2017 cars) | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 85.5% | 7,894 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 80.3% | 17,457 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 76.4% | 14,872 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 72.3% | 6,901 |
| Over 100,000 | 67.8% | 3,483 |
Compared with other cars
Set against the rest of the Nissan range, which averages 68%, the X-Trail at 70.2% is above par. Within the family, see Nissan Qashqai reliability (69.5%) and Juke common problems (70%), or Nissan reliability by model. Buyers weighing a X-Trail against other cars of similar popularity often compare it with the BMW 1 Series (78.2%) and BMW X5 (79.2%). The ranking of every make puts them side by side, and the UK pass rates by age and fuel give the baseline.
Each X-Trail year in detail
Each year opens to show its own failure list and pass rate by mileage.
Nissan X-Trail 2021 87.3% pass 4,717 tests87.9% at first MOT
On a 2021 Nissan X-Trail, brake pads worn below 1.5mm appears on 34.9% of failed tests, with wipers not clearing the screen next at 16.5%.
2021 cars pass 88.4% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 91.7% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 88.4% | 3,694 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 84.4% | 839 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 75.7% | 140 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 81.3% | 32 |
| Over 100,000 | 91.7% | 12 |
By fuel: petrol 87.4% (3,155 tests), diesel 87.1% (1,562 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2020 87% pass 14,284 tests87.8% at first MOT
On a 2020 Nissan X-Trail, brake pads worn below 1.5mm appears on 26.3% of failed tests, with a dashboard warning light next at 17%.
2020 cars pass 88.4% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 82.4% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 88.4% | 10,012 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 84.4% | 3,241 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 82.8% | 802 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 75.7% | 177 |
| Over 100,000 | 82.4% | 51 |
By fuel: diesel 86.4% (8,279 tests), petrol 88% (6,002 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2019 84% pass 16,796 tests
On a 2019 Nissan X-Trail, brake pads worn below 1.5mm appears on 27.1% of failed tests, with wipers not clearing the screen next at 17.4%.
2019 cars pass 86.7% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 77% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 86.7% | 9,252 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 82% | 5,217 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 78.5% | 1,767 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 75.9% | 398 |
| Over 100,000 | 77% | 161 |
By fuel: diesel 83.2% (11,477 tests), petrol 85.7% (5,316 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2018 83% pass 26,403 tests
On a 2018 Nissan X-Trail, brake pads worn below 1.5mm appears on 28.6% of failed tests, with wipers not clearing the screen next at 11.3%.
2018 cars pass 87.1% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 76.3% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 87.1% | 8,411 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 82.5% | 9,937 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 80.2% | 5,346 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 77.6% | 1,872 |
| Over 100,000 | 76.3% | 836 |
By fuel: diesel 83.6% (22,052 tests), petrol 79.6% (4,340 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2017 78% pass 50,609 tests
On a 2017 Nissan X-Trail, brake pads worn below 1.5mm appears on 22.9% of failed tests, with a worn ball joint next at 17%.
2017 cars pass 85.5% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 67.8% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 85.5% | 7,894 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 80.3% | 17,457 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 76.4% | 14,872 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 72.3% | 6,901 |
| Over 100,000 | 67.8% | 3,483 |
By fuel: diesel 78.2% (42,443 tests), petrol 77.1% (8,151 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2016 72.7% pass 44,182 tests
On a 2016 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 27.8% of failed tests, with brake pads worn below 1.5mm next at 17.2%.
2016 cars pass 83.8% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 63.4% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 83.8% | 3,738 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 78.1% | 11,646 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 72.6% | 14,251 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 66.9% | 9,011 |
| Over 100,000 | 63.4% | 5,532 |
By fuel: diesel 72.2% (38,795 tests), petrol 76.2% (5,367 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2015 67.6% pass 24,342 tests
On a 2015 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 36.6% of failed tests, with brake pads worn below 1.5mm next at 14.1%.
2015 cars pass 84.1% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 59.3% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 84.1% | 1,034 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 77.3% | 4,053 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 69.3% | 7,079 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 64.1% | 6,371 |
| Over 100,000 | 59.3% | 5,803 |
By fuel: diesel 67.1% (22,589 tests), petrol 72.7% (1,727 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2014 65.3% pass 11,400 tests
On a 2014 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 36.1% of failed tests, with play in a track rod end next at 15.1%.
2014 cars pass 85.6% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 57.8% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 85.6% | 313 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 77.3% | 1,324 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 69.4% | 2,955 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 63% | 3,155 |
| Over 100,000 | 57.8% | 3,652 |
Nissan X-Trail 2013 63.6% pass 4,694 tests
On a 2013 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 38.4% of failed tests, with play in a track rod end next at 16.8%.
2013 cars pass 81.3% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 55.9% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 81.3% | 182 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 77.5% | 609 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 67.4% | 999 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 61.8% | 1,164 |
| Over 100,000 | 55.9% | 1,739 |
Nissan X-Trail 2012 59.8% pass 4,948 tests
On a 2012 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 34.8% of failed tests, with a split CV boot next at 17%.
2012 cars pass 82.9% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 52.7% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 82.9% | 105 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 73.4% | 410 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 68.5% | 867 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 60.9% | 1,176 |
| Over 100,000 | 52.7% | 2,389 |
Nissan X-Trail 2011 56.4% pass 6,082 tests
On a 2011 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 32.7% of failed tests, with play in a track rod end next at 20.9%.
2011 cars pass 81% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 51.3% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 81% | 116 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 75.2% | 303 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 66.6% | 727 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 59.4% | 1,144 |
| Over 100,000 | 51.3% | 3,792 |
Nissan X-Trail 2010 52.5% pass 4,064 tests
On a 2010 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 29.8% of failed tests, with play in a track rod end next at 23.7%.
2010 cars pass 84.6% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 49.5% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 84.6% | 39 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 69.1% | 139 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 62.7% | 373 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 54.3% | 656 |
| Over 100,000 | 49.5% | 2,855 |
Nissan X-Trail 2009 52.8% pass 5,591 tests
On a 2009 Nissan X-Trail, play in a track rod end appears on 26.9% of failed tests, with a worn ball joint next at 22.6%.
2009 cars pass 84.1% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 48.9% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 84.1% | 69 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 71% | 217 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 62.8% | 481 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 58% | 880 |
| Over 100,000 | 48.9% | 3,943 |
Nissan X-Trail 2008 51.2% pass 8,678 tests
On a 2008 Nissan X-Trail, play in a track rod end appears on 27.1% of failed tests, with a worn ball joint next at 22%.
2008 cars pass 72.9% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 48.4% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 72.9% | 59 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 71.5% | 214 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 66.4% | 512 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 55.5% | 1,177 |
| Over 100,000 | 48.4% | 6,715 |
Nissan X-Trail 2007 51.8% pass 10,802 tests
On a 2007 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 22.6% of failed tests, with play in a track rod end next at 19.2%.
2007 cars pass 73.8% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 49.4% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 73.8% | 103 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 73.3% | 307 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 64% | 719 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 53.9% | 1,440 |
| Over 100,000 | 49.4% | 8,231 |
By fuel: diesel 51.3% (10,006 tests), petrol 58.4% (793 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2006 50.9% pass 12,138 tests
On a 2006 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 21.5% of failed tests, with a sidelight not working next at 14.7%.
2006 cars pass 76.4% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 48.3% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 76.4% | 89 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 70.3% | 303 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 60.4% | 830 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 55.8% | 1,637 |
| Over 100,000 | 48.3% | 9,274 |
By fuel: diesel 49.7% (9,906 tests), petrol 56% (2,224 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2005 53.3% pass 9,737 tests
On a 2005 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 19.1% of failed tests, with a sidelight not working next at 13.6%.
2005 cars pass 77.5% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 50.5% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 77.5% | 111 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 80.3% | 238 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 63.3% | 646 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 57.4% | 1,243 |
| Over 100,000 | 50.5% | 7,491 |
By fuel: diesel 51.7% (7,254 tests), petrol 57.6% (2,472 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2004 52% pass 6,188 tests
On a 2004 Nissan X-Trail, body mounting corroded at a mounting point appears on 18% of failed tests, with a worn ball joint next at 17%.
2004 cars pass 77.8% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 48.6% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 77.8% | 63 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 68.3% | 183 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 64.1% | 449 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 58.7% | 854 |
| Over 100,000 | 48.6% | 4,624 |
By fuel: diesel 49.9% (4,179 tests), petrol 56.6% (2,000 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2003 53.6% pass 3,452 tests
On a 2003 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 18.1% of failed tests, with body mounting corroded at a mounting point next at 15.9%.
2003 cars pass 71.4% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 50.2% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 71.4% | 49 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 71.9% | 146 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 62.5% | 352 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 56.2% | 566 |
| Over 100,000 | 50.2% | 2,338 |
By fuel: petrol 57.1% (1,735 tests), diesel 50.1% (1,714 tests).
Nissan X-Trail 2002 54.9% pass 1,092 tests
On a 2002 Nissan X-Trail, a worn ball joint appears on 13.6% of failed tests, with a sidelight not working next at 12.4%.
2002 cars pass 89.5% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 49.6% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 89.5% | 19 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 71.4% | 77 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 65.7% | 166 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 53.6% | 168 |
| Over 100,000 | 49.6% | 661 |
Questions people ask
Is the Nissan X-Trail reliable?
On MOT evidence the Nissan X-Trail is below average. It passes 70.2% of tests against 71.7% for all cars, and trails cars of the same age by 2.8 points. 87.8% pass their first MOT at three years old. Figures from 270,199 DVSA tests.
What are the most common Nissan X-Trail MOT failures?
A worn ball joint (20.3% of failed tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (15.7%) and tyre tread below the legal minimum (6.9%). Suspension failures are the hard ones to see coming: a snapped coil spring or a worn ball joint gives little warning. Knocks over speed bumps are the clue.
Which Nissan X-Trail year is the most reliable?
Among years with a large sample, 2020 cars have the highest pass rate at 87% and 2006 cars the lowest at 50.9%. Newer years pass more because they are younger, so compare a specific car's year against the table above rather than against the overall figure.
What advisories does a Nissan X-Trail usually get?
Tyre tread below the legal minimum is the most frequent, noted on 16.1% of all X-Trail tests, then brake pads worn below 1.5mm (13.7%). An advisory passes the car today but marks the item most likely to fail next year.
How many miles a year does a Nissan X-Trail do?
About 8,435 miles a year on average, calculated from the odometer readings recorded at consecutive MOTs. That is close to the UK average of roughly 7,400.
How do I check a particular Nissan X-Trail?
The figures describe the whole fleet. For one car, enter its registration in the free MOT check to see its own test history, advisories and mileage, set against these averages for its year.
Own a X-Trail?
Enter the registration to see its own MOT history, advisories and mileage set against these figures, including whether it has done more or fewer than the 8,435 miles a year typical of the model.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 to 2025. Class 4 cars, normal tests only; a pass after rectification counts as an initial failure. Age-adjusted figures compare the model's pass rate at each age with the national rate at the same age. Methodology.