Nissan X Trail (2016)

15,362 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84% first-time pass rate

2016 Nissan X Trail

CarHunch analysed 15,362 real MOT records for the 2016 Nissan X Trail. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2016 X-Trail passes its MOT first time 84% of the time, which is a solid 4 points ahead of the UK average and suggests above-average reliability. However, 42.7% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above the typical threshold—so you need to factor in the cost of potential safety-critical repairs when budgeting.

At a median mileage of 54,528 miles for an eight-year-old car, these X-Trails are running light, which partly explains the strong pass rate. When they do fail or need work, the average vehicle racks up 1.48 failures and 11 advisories per test, pointing to a pattern of minor wear rather than catastrophic breakdown. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks brakes, suspension, and steering—the areas most likely to generate those dangerous defects.

Below average reliability 4% above UK average
84%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
54,528
typical mileage
42,908–67,781 middle half
42.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.48
avg MOT failures per car
over 8.3 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2016 Nissan X Trail

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.
  • ⚠️ 42.7% 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 X Trail

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

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (88%) 13,529 83.8% 1.49
Petrol (12%) 1,821 84.7% 1.39
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (0%) 11 100% 0
Gas Diesel (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Nissan X Trail 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.

42,908
low mileage
54,528
typical
67,781
high mileage

Half of all 2016 Nissan X Trail vehicles fall between 42,908 and 67,781 miles.

2016 Nissan X Trail — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 14,221 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

14,712 14,221 2019 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.

MOT History Averages

8.3
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.48
Avg failures per vehicle
11
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2016 Nissan X Trail

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

  • 50.2%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 48.8%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 48.4%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 46.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 26.3%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 26.2%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 20%
    Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()
  • 17.6%
    Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Nissan X Trail?

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

UK

Other model years — Nissan X Trail:

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021