Used car guide

2002 Nissan X-Trail: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2002 Nissan X-Trails, from 261 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 261 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

261MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2002 cars: 60%)
4,700typical miles a year
4.8×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2002 Nissan X-Trails than on all cars registered in 2002.

  • Sub-frame4.8× usual
    Nissan X-Trail
    25.3% All 2002 cars
    5.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Headlights2× usual
    Nissan X-Trail
    21.1% All 2002 cars
    10.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 4% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Ball joint2.5× usual
    Nissan X-Trail
    14.9% All 2002 cars
    5.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8%, against 2.5% of all 2002 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.

  • Track rod ends2.4× usual
    Nissan X-Trail
    13.8% All 2002 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 2.3% of all 2002 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.

  • Brake pads2.3× usual
    Nissan X-Trail
    14.2% All 2002 cars
    6.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 1.4% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

By area

The share of 2002 Nissan X-Trail MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    63% 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
    43% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    33% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    26% 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
    19% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Nissan X-Trail?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023214Tyres 15%
2022539Tyres 17%
20212,312Brakes 28%
20204,749Brakes 25%
20195,667Brakes 26%
20188,905Tyres 28%
201717,100Suspension 34%
201614,808Suspension 42%
20158,178Suspension 49%
20143,809Suspension 55%
20131,576Suspension 54%
20121,644Suspension 57%
20111,966Suspension 60%
20101,291Suspension 64%
20091,712Suspension 64%
20082,581Suspension 65%
20072,967Suspension 63%
20063,212Suspension 66%
20052,397Suspension 62%
20041,479Suspension 60%
2003832Suspension 59%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2002 Nissan X-Trails registered in 2002. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score