Nissan Pathfinder (2010)

611 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.9% first-time pass rate

2010 Nissan Pathfinder

CarHunch analysed 611 real MOT records for the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2010 Nissan Pathfinder is a reliability concern: its 73.9% first-time pass rate sits 6 points below the UK average, and more troublingly, 53.4% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above the threshold for buyer caution. The diesel engine dominates the market (604 of 611 vehicles) and offers no improvement, passing at 73.8%.

At 87,000 miles median for a 14-year-old vehicle, these Pathfinders are running fairly hard, yet they're averaging 4.29 failures per test and a hefty 24.4 advisories—suggesting wear issues are compounding faster than typical. Before buying, budget for ongoing repairs and have any prospective purchase inspected by a Nissan specialist, particularly around engine, suspension, and brake components where these vehicles tend to accumulate problems.

Below average reliability 6.1% below UK average
73.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
87,146
typical mileage
71,091–105,828 middle half
53.4%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.29
avg MOT failures per car
over 15.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2010 Nissan Pathfinder

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 53.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Nissan Pathfinder

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (99%) 604 73.8% 4.33
Petrol (1%) 7 84% 1.14

Mileage Distribution

Most 2010 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

71,091
low mileage
87,146
typical
105,828
high mileage

Half of all 2010 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles fall between 71,091 and 105,828 miles.

2010 Nissan Pathfinder — Still on the Road

387 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 68% of the peak remain.

569 387 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

15.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.29
Avg failures per vehicle
24.4
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2010 Nissan Pathfinder

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 52.4%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 49.9%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 48.1%
    Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play
  • 47%
    Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play
  • 46.9%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 38.8%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 36.7%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 35.9%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2010. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Nissan Pathfinder?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Nissan Pathfinder:

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014