Used car guide

2014 Nissan Pathfinder: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Nissan Pathfinders, from 333 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 333 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

333MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
9,300typical miles a year
4.2×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Nissan Pathfinders than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Ball joint4.2× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    17.7% All 2014 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 2.3% of all 2014 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 joints7.8× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    13.2% All 2014 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 0.6% of all 2014 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.

  • Brake lights3.6× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    10.5% All 2014 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 2.2% of all 2014 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.7× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    9.6% All 2014 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.5% of all 2014 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.

  • Track rod ends2.3× usual
    Nissan Pathfinder
    10.5% All 2014 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 2.3% of all 2014 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.

By area

The share of 2014 Nissan Pathfinder MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% 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
    14% 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
    9% 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
2013380Suspension 43%
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 2014 Nissan Pathfinders registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score