2020 Nissan X-Trail MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 85.9% of Nissan X-Trails first used in 2020 passed their MOT first time, against 86.0% for all cars first used in 2020. Across 14,490 X-Trail first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were brakes, tyres and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).
This page analyses first MOT tests for Nissan X-Trails first used in 2020 (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 2020 Nissan X-Trail MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, X-Trails first used in 2020 against all cars first used in 2020 (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 | 2020 X-Trail | All cars first used 2020 | X-Trail first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | fewer than 500 tests | 84.7% | 24 |
| 2022 | fewer than 500 tests | 90.2% | 342 |
| 2023 | 87.8% | 87.7% | 4,946 |
| 2024 | 87.4% | 86.9% | 4,802 |
| 2025 | 85.9% | 86.0% | 4,742 |
Common 2020 Nissan X-Trail MOT failures
Share of the 1,874 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 | 26.1% | 489 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 16.8% | 315 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | 11.7% | 219 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 8.8% | 165 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 6.8% | 128 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2020 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.
- Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.
Common 2020 Nissan X-Trail MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2020 X-Trails, as a share of all 14,490 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 16.0% | 2,320 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 10.7% | 1,550 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 8.4% | 1,221 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 5.3% | 767 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 4.3% | 625 |
Questions about the 2020 Nissan X-Trail MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2020 Nissan X-Trail?
In 2025, 85.9% of X-Trails first used in 2020 passed their MOT first time, against 86.0% for all cars first used in 2020. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2020 X-Trail most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes (in 32.6% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (21.3%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (20.5%). The single most common item was “Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick” (26.1%).
How often does a 2020 Nissan X-Trail fail its MOT?
In 2025, 14.1% of first tests on X-Trails first used in 2020 did not pass first time: 11.4% failed, and a further 2.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,874 of 14,490 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2020 Nissan X-Trail MOT advisories?
“Brake pads: wearing thin” (on 16.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (10.7%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (8.4%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (5.3%) and “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (4.3%).
Is a 2020 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 87.8% in 2023 to 85.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2020
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2020 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2020 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2020 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2020 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2020 MINI Hatch MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2020 X-Trail?
The numbers above cover every X-Trail first used in 2020 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
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