Used car guide

2012 Nissan Navara: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Nissan Navaras, from 3,106 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,106MOT tests in 2025
53%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
9,500typical miles a year
2.9×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Nissan Navaras than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Ball joint2.9× usual
    Nissan Navara
    16.5% All 2012 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Chassis rust or damage16.1× usual
    Nissan Navara
    11.3% All 2012 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Exhaust system2.9× usual
    Nissan Navara
    15.8% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.5% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Track rod ends2.9× usual
    Nissan Navara
    14.1% All 2012 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.8%, against 2.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.4× usual
    Nissan Navara
    13.2% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 4.6% here, against 14.5% of all 2012 cars. Coil springs: 2.9% here, against 9.6% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Nissan Navara MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    42% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    41% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    33% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    21% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Rust and bodywork
    13% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022127Brakes 17%
20216,886Brakes 17%
20204,167Brakes 19%
20197,185Brakes 22%
20187,665Suspension 27%
20178,694Suspension 34%
20167,598Suspension 32%
20153,812Suspension 35%
20143,375Suspension 38%
20133,284Suspension 40%
20113,541Suspension 44%
20101,698Suspension 42%
20091,531Lights and electrics 46%
20081,444Suspension 44%
20071,778Suspension 44%
20061,534Lights and electrics 45%
2005982Lights and electrics 47%
2004619Brakes 49%
2003246Brakes 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Nissan Navaras registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score