Verdict
The Nissan Pathfinder passes its MOT first time on 54.1% of tests, 3.4 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (57.5%). That puts it ahead of 37% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2005 Pathfinder does best (beats 59% of cars) and the 2013 worst (beats 15%).
Better than average on tyres.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 54.1% | Beats 37% | D |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Track rod ends 2.8× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres. - Suspension ball joints 2.2× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering. - Wheel bearings 3.8× typical
Listen for a hum or drone that rises with speed. - Coil springs 1.5× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps. - Exhaust system 1.9× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath. - Anti-roll bar links 2.1× typical
A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn anti-roll bar links (cheap to fix).
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidelights | 7.0% | 5.8% | 1.2× |
| Track rod ends | 6.7% | 2.4% | 2.8× |
| Coil springs | 6.1% | 4.0% | 1.5× |
| Suspension ball joints | 5.7% | 2.6% | 2.2× |
| Brake lights | 5.1% | 4.0% | 1.3× |
| Windscreen washers | 4.6% | 3.2% | 1.4× |
| Tyre tread depth | 4.0% | 3.9% | 1.0× |
| Exhaust system | 3.9% | 2.1% | 1.9× |
| Wheel bearings | 3.8% | 1.0% | 3.8× |
| Headlight aim | 3.4% | 5.3% | 0.6× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 94.7 |
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 64.1 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 60.6 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 56.0 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 45.6 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 44.5 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 39.6 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 38.1 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2014 Nissan Pathfinder1 engine66.2% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 66.2% | Beats 21% | D |
2013 Nissan Pathfinder1 engine61.5% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 61.5% | Beats 15% | E |
2012 Nissan Pathfinder1 engine58.9% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 58.9% | Beats 19% | E |
2011 Nissan Pathfinder1 engine59.0% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 59.0% | Beats 35% | D |
2010 Nissan Pathfinder1 engine58.0% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 58.0% | Beats 46% | C |
2009 Nissan Pathfinder1 engine50.0% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 50.0% | Beats 22% | D |
2008 Nissan Pathfinder1 engine50.6% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 50.6% | Beats 32% | D |
2007 Nissan Pathfinder1 engine50.3% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 50.3% | Beats 34% | D |
2006 Nissan Pathfinder1 engine51.6% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 51.6% | Beats 46% | C |
2005 Nissan Pathfinder1 engine54.0% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Diesel | 54.0% | Beats 59% | C |
FAQ
What is the Nissan Pathfinder MOT pass rate?
54.1% of MOT tests on the Nissan Pathfinder were passed first time, based on 63,283 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2005–2014. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 57.5% of the time.
Is the Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 37% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Nissan Pathfinder year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2005 Pathfinder does best for its age and mileage: it beats 59% of cars on UK roads. The 2013 does worst: it beats 15%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Nissan Pathfinder?
The most common failure items are sidelights, track rod ends, coil springs. Compared with similar cars, track rod ends comes up 2.8× as often.