Used car guide

2012 Nissan Pathfinder: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Nissan Pathfinders, from 376 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 376 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

376MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
8,600typical miles a year
3.4×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

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

  • Ball joint3.4× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    18.9% All 2012 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.7%, 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints4.3× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    13.6% All 2012 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 1.2% 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 damage11.4× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    8% All 2012 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.5× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    11.2% All 2012 cars
    4.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 2.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Engine warning light4.4× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    8% All 2012 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8%, against 1.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 7.2% here, against 14.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

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

  • Suspension
    44% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    35% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    31% 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
    28% 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
    14% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    11% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Looking at a Nissan Pathfinder?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014333Suspension 41%
2013380Suspension 43%
2011602Suspension 49%
2010410Suspension 51%
2009510Suspension 46%
2008362Suspension 48%
2007727Suspension 48%
2006656Suspension 52%
2005404Suspension 51%

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