Used car guide

2013 Nissan Pathfinder: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 Nissan Pathfinders, from 380 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 380 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

380MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
8,700typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 Nissan Pathfinders than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Ball joint3.5× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    17.6% All 2013 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.4%, against 2.7% of all 2013 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 joints6× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    13.2% All 2013 cars
    2.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 0.8% of all 2013 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.

  • Exhaust system2.2× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    10% All 2013 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.2% of all 2013 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.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 6.1% here, against 14.3% of all 2013 cars.

By area

The share of 2013 Nissan Pathfinder MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    43% 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
    34% 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
    30% 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
    25% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    10% 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.

Looking at a Nissan Pathfinder?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014333Suspension 41%
2012376Suspension 44%
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 2013 Nissan Pathfinders registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score