2018 Nissan X-Trail MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 81.4% of Nissan X-Trails first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 26,840 X-Trail first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were brakes, tyres and suspension.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Nissan X-Trails first used in 2018 (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 2018 Nissan X-Trail MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, X-Trails first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the X-Trail figure was in line with the all-cars figure.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2018 X-Trail | All cars first used 2018 | X-Trail first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88.3% | 87.6% | 9,287 |
| 2022 | 85.2% | 86.3% | 9,030 |
| 2023 | 84.4% | 84.2% | 8,960 |
| 2024 | 83.2% | 82.5% | 8,967 |
| 2025 | 81.4% | 80.9% | 8,913 |
Common 2018 Nissan X-Trail MOT failures
Share of the 4,563 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 28.5% | 1,301 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 11.2% | 513 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 9.7% | 444 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 8.1% | 369 |
| Ball joint: excessively worn | 8.0% | 363 |
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 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2018 Nissan X-Trail before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- 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.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
Common 2018 Nissan X-Trail MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 X-Trails, as a share of all 26,840 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 17.8% | 4,786 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 14.4% | 3,858 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 10.8% | 2,902 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 10.8% | 2,890 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 9.9% | 2,649 |
Questions about the 2018 Nissan X-Trail MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Nissan X-Trail?
In 2025, 81.4% of X-Trails first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2018 X-Trail most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes (in 34.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (24.8%) and suspension (18.2%). The single most common item was “Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick” (28.5%).
How often does a 2018 Nissan X-Trail fail its MOT?
In 2025, 18.6% of first tests on X-Trails first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 16.0% failed, and a further 2.6% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 4,563 of 26,840 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2018 Nissan X-Trail MOT advisories?
“Brake pads: wearing thin” (on 17.8% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (14.4%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (10.8%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (10.8%) and “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (9.9%).
Is a 2018 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 88.3% in 2021 to 81.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2018
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
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