Nissan
Pathfinder
12,194 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Pathfinders pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 11.9 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
65.6%
Pass-after-fix
5.0%
Fail
27.6%
Avg miles
126,658
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Some examples of this model are borderline — a small number of diesels were certified Euro 6 before September 2015. Check your registration on the government's ULEZ checker to be certain. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 · Bristol £9.00 .
The picture
Pathfinder: a below-average pass rate worth digging into
Across 8,940 MOT tests, the Pathfinder returns 63.4% first-time pass — well below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a split CV-joint boot. A number-plate lamp out and worn suspension bushes round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 123,819, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 30–40
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
30–40
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
740 occurrences · 6.1% of tests
- 02
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
718 occurrences · 5.9% of tests
- 03
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
575 occurrences · 4.7% of tests
- 04
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
464 occurrences · 3.8% of tests
- 05
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
442 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 06
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
436 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 07
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
395 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 08
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
385 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 09
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
355 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 10
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
346 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£168–£515
If every one of this Pathfinder's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Summit
Summit ASRG-1005 Nissan Replacement Stick-On Wide Angle Mirror Glass RHS
£24.19
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ASRG-1004BH Nissan Replacement Wide Angle Mirror Glass with Heated Backing Plate LHS
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ASRG-1005BH Nissan Replacement Wide Angle Mirror Glass with Heated Backing Plate RHS
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Nissan Intense Blue Metallic 12.5ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
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Book a mobile mechanic
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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
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Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
Where it falls short
Diesel starts at £24,000 for the 5-seat S and rises to £30,660 for top-of-the-range T-Spec 7-seater. Automatic available on all except the S, adds £1,300, so top price is £31,960 for the T-Spec auto.
Buying or keeping a Pathfinder?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Pathfinder and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.