2009 Nissan X-Trail MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 54.9% of Nissan X-Trails first used in 2009 passed their MOT first time, against 58.3% for all cars first used in 2009. Across 5,684 X-Trail first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were suspension, lamps and electrical equipment and brakes.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Nissan X-Trails first used in 2009 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2009 Nissan X-Trail MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, X-Trails first used in 2009 against all cars first used in 2009 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the X-Trail figure was 3.4 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2009 X-Trail | All cars first used 2009 | X-Trail first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57.7% | 60.5% | 2,196 |
| 2022 | 54.4% | 60.1% | 2,179 |
| 2023 | 53.4% | 59.0% | 2,060 |
| 2024 | 50.0% | 58.4% | 1,904 |
| 2025 | 54.9% | 58.3% | 1,720 |
Common 2009 Nissan X-Trail MOT failures
Share of the 2,687 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play | 26.8% | 720 |
| Ball joint: excessively worn | 19.6% | 527 |
| Position lamp: not working | 18.6% | 501 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | 11.7% | 314 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | 10.7% | 288 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for an X-Trail in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball joint: excessively worn | Ball joint replacement | £90 | £60–£150 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension arm replacement | £150 | £120–£180 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2009 Nissan X-Trail before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
Common 2009 Nissan X-Trail MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2009 X-Trails, as a share of all 5,684 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 17.9% | 1,017 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 14.9% | 845 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 13.7% | 781 |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | 12.2% | 696 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 11.7% | 667 |
Questions about the 2009 Nissan X-Trail MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2009 Nissan X-Trail?
In 2025, 54.9% of X-Trails first used in 2009 passed their MOT first time, against 58.3% for all cars first used in 2009. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2009 X-Trail most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension (in 49.6% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (37.6%) and brakes (31.3%). The single most common item was “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play” (26.8%).
How often does a 2009 Nissan X-Trail fail its MOT?
In 2025, 45.1% of first tests on X-Trails first used in 2009 did not pass first time: 40.2% failed, and a further 4.9% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 2,687 of 5,684 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2009 Nissan X-Trail MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 17.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (14.9%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (13.7%), “Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened” (12.2%) and “Brake pads: wearing thin” (11.7%).
Is a 2009 Nissan X-Trail reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 57.7% in 2021 to 54.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2009
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2009 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2009 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2009 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2009 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2009 X-Trail?
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