Nissan X-Trail 2016: reliability & common MOT faults
On the 2016 Nissan X-Trail, MOT failures for Ball joint (front) and Track rod end (front) show up more often than on similar cars of the same age and mileage. Figures come from UK DVSA open data for tests in 2025 (4,403 failed first-attempt tests). Figures are among first-attempt failed MOT tests, not among all tests.
Sample
4,403 failed first-attempt tests · 14,205 first tests (test year 2025)
Standout pattern
Ball joint (front) — about 5.7× more often than on similar cars.
What to check
Ball joint (front) — about 5.7× more often than similar cars
Track rod end (front) — about 2.3× more often than similar cars
Pins and bushes (front) — about 2.2× more often than similar cars
Common faults
Failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars.
These MOT failure patterns show up more often on this registration year than on
similar cars of the same class, age, and mileage.
Based on 4,403 failed first-attempt tests
in 2025.
Ball joint (front)
This failure pattern appears about 5.7× more often than on similar cars — recorded on 1,337 failed first-attempt tests; 30.4% of failed tests for this model year.
Front·1,337 failures·×5.7·30.4% of failed first tests·Strong
#
Fault pattern
Location
Failures
vs similar cars
Share of fails
Confidence
1
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
Front
1,337
×5.7
30.4%
Strong
2
Track rod end (front)
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
Front
462
×2.3
10.5%
Possible
3
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
Front
391
×2.2
8.9%
Possible
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown
(at least 20 failures and about
2.0× more often than similar cars).
Note: Rates and comparisons are among first-attempt failed tests, not all MOTs. Patterns come from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer service bulletins, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Failures and advisories are listed separately.
Wear patterns
Usage and mileage effects that often track road use rather than model design.
These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults.
Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use.
Note: These patterns are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.
Advisories
Notes recorded at the test that appear more often than on similar cars.
Advisory notes recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear more often than on similar cars.
#
Advisory pattern
Location
Notes
vs similar cars
Share
Confidence
1
Suspension arm (rear)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm
Rear
333
×14
7.6%
Likely
2
Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
Rear
88
×11
2.0%
Likely
3
Headlamp (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Headlamps > Headlamp
Front
34
×7.6
0.8%
Elevated
4
Track rod end (front)
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
Front
182
×4.0
4.1%
Possible
5
Suspension arm (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm
Front
48
×3.1
1.1%
Elevated
6
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
Front
216
×2.8
4.9%
Strong
7
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
Front
714
×2.4
16.2%
Possible
8
Sub-frame (rear)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Sub-frame
Rear
78
×2.4
1.8%
Elevated
Note: Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
FAQs
Short answers about how to read this model-year guide.
We do not show a single reliability score for the 2016 Nissan X-Trail on this page. Among 4,403 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Ball joint (front) appears more often than on similar cars (about 5.7× more often than similar cars; 1,337 observed failures; 30.4% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we highlight patterns that appear more often than on similar cars. Top example: Ball joint (front) (about 5.7× more often than similar cars; 1,337 observed failures; 30.4% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Ball joint (front) shows up more often than on similar cars (about 5.7× more often than similar cars; 1,337 observed failures; 30.4% of failed tests). That does not prove a design fault — age, mileage, and how the car was used still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer service bulletin.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2016 Nissan X-Trail include Ball joint (front), Track rod end (front), Pins and bushes (front). These patterns show up more often than on similar cars after we filter out sparse noise — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that appear more often than on similar cars among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights MOT failure patterns for the 2016 Nissan X-Trail (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are compared with cars of a similar age and mileage. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer service-bulletin list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.
PRS means the car failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
About this data
How this page is built and what it can (and can't) say.
These figures come from UK MOT open data for this model year. We surface common failure patterns against similar cars — not a full reliability score, and not a pass/fail verdict on any individual vehicle.
20242025
What we include
UK Class 4 cars only. Normal MOT tests (not retests); first test per vehicle per calendar year; results pass, PRS, or fail.
Same-day repairs
PRS means the car failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
How we compare
We compare this model year with other Class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year. This model family is left out of the peer group so the car is not measured against itself.
What this does not cover
MOTs do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronics — this is not a full reliability score.
Common faults come from MOT defect stats, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
Age and mileage matching reduces — but does not remove — differences in how cars were used and maintained.
We never invent pass rates, star scores, or ranks when those data marts are missing.