Used car guide · 2005–2014

Nissan Pathfinder common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Nissan Pathfinder, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 17,228 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

17,228MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
5,761on the UK register
2005best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2014201320122011201020092008200720062005

What usually goes wrong with a Nissan Pathfinder?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Nissan Pathfinder in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Nissan Pathfinder MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Ball joint

    up to 4.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    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 joints

    up to 7.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    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 damage

    up to 12.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    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.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013.

    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.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 5.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    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.

Nissan Pathfinder MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder did best (56% passed first time, 1 point below all 2005 cars) and the 2013 did worst (55%, 12 points below all 2013 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201460%70% -101,015
201355%67% -121,164
201253%64% -111,183
201158%62% -41,885
201057%60% -31,420
200950%59% -91,938
200851%57% -61,446
200751%57% -62,884
200653%56% -32,692
200556%57% -11,601

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Nissan Pathfinder

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 4.6× as often on the Nissan Pathfinder as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 7.1× as often on the Nissan Pathfinder as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the chassis rust or damage? (Flagged at MOT 12.4× as often on the Nissan Pathfinder as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Nissan Pathfinder?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score