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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2008 Nissan X-Trail MOT fail rate and common faults

How Nissan X-Trail cars first used in 2008 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 12,512 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 17 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 17 (n=2,606)47.7%
All cars at 17 years (n=4,040,458)43.1%
Difference+4.6 pts
MOT tests of 2008 cars, 2022 to 202512,512

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 17 years old, Nissan X-Trail cars first used in 2008 failed 47.7% of MOTs (2,606 tests), 4.6 points above the 43.1% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 14 to 17 years old, the fail rate moved from 47.9% to 47.7%.
  • Nissan X-Trail cars first used a year earlier, in 2007, failed 47.9% at the same age of 17 years (3,653 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Nissan X-Trail at 17 years, is suspension ball joint worn, at 8.8 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.4).

MOT fail rate by test year

Nissan X-Trail cars first used in 2008: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202214 years47.9%3,60540.3%+7.7 pts
202315 years48.2%3,33541.6%+6.6 pts
202416 years49.1%2,96642.6%+6.5 pts
202517 years47.7%2,60643.1%+4.6 pts

Most common faults at 17 years

These figures cover all Nissan X-Trail MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=16,744). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Suspension ball joint worn8.82.4
Steering track rod end: ball joint play8.41.9
Side/position light not working Wear7.25.8
Driveshaft CV boot split6.33.2
Anti-roll bar link worn4.01.5
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength4.01.9
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.81.9
Handbrake too weak3.62.7
Shock absorber leaking3.61.6
Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear3.31.9

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=16,744). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear18.317.9
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive17.511.7
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened17.511.3
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material16.110.5
Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened13.15.3
Brake pads wearing thin Wear10.26.6
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement8.68.7
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear8.09.6
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear7.95.9
Anti-roll bar pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement7.20.9

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=16,744). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 17 years

These figures cover all Nissan X-Trail MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=16,744). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Diesel85.7%48.3%14,34043.2%129,179 miles
Petrol14.3%44.5%2,39343.2%107,881 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 17 years

These figures cover all Nissan X-Trail MOTs at 17 years: cars first used 2005 to 2008, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=16,744). At 17 years, Nissan X-Trail cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (54.0%, n=3,995) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (38.7%, n=1,964). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
60,000 to 90,000 miles38.7%1,96441.7%
90,000 to 120,000 miles46.9%4,64546.2%
120,000 to 150,000 miles50.5%5,44947.1%
Over 150,000 miles54.0%3,99546.5%

Car tax rules for a 2008 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2008 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Nissan X-Trail

Other Nissan models first used in 2008

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Nissan Note (2008)17 years in 202548.0%13,83543.1%
Nissan Micra (2008)17 years in 202542.0%13,30343.1%
Nissan Qashqai (2008)17 years in 202555.8%11,06143.1%
Nissan Navara (2008)17 years in 202542.7%1,45343.1%

More on the Nissan X-Trail

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2008 Nissan X-Trail cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.