Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Nissan Navara 2012: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2012 Nissan Navara include Chassis condition (rear) (~38.2× peers) and Malfunction indicator lamp (~5.2× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (1,370 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

1,370 failed first-attempt tests · 2,874 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Chassis condition (rear) — about 38.2× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Chassis condition (rear): about 38.2× more often than similar cars
  • Malfunction indicator lamp: about 5.2× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 1,370 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Chassis condition (rear)

This failure pattern appears about 38.2× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 116 failed first-attempt tests; 8.5% of failed tests for this model year.

Rear · 116 failures · ×38.2 vs similar cars · 8.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Malfunction indicator lamp

This failure pattern appears about 5.2× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 213 failed first-attempt tests; 15.5% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 213 failures · ×5.2 vs similar cars · 15.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

# Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Spring mounting prescribed areas (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Spring mounting prescribed areas
 Rear 35 ×39.8 2.6% Likely common fault pattern
2 Chassis condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
 Rear 116 ×38.2 8.5% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3 Prop shafts — Joints (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Prop shafts > Joints
 Front 45 ×21.6 3.3% Likely common fault pattern
4 Service brake imbalance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service Brake Efficiency (sp) > Rbt (sp) > Service brake imbalance
 Rear 85 ×8.9 6.2% Likely common fault pattern
5 Component mounting prescribed areas (rear)
Suspension > Component mounting prescribed areas
 Rear 94 ×8.2 6.9% Likely common fault pattern
6 Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
 Front 55 ×5.5 4.0% Likely common fault pattern
7 Malfunction indicator lamp
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Malfunction indicator lamp
 Any 213 ×5.2 15.5% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
8 Individual direction indicators (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
 Front 76 ×5.1 5.5% Likely common fault pattern
9 SRS malfunction indicator lamp
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > SRS malfunction indicator lamp
 Any 98 ×3.9 7.2% Likely common fault pattern
10 Emissions not tested
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Emissions not tested
 Any 30 ×3.5 2.2% Likely common fault pattern

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

# Advisory pattern Location Notes vs similar cars Share Confidence
1 Prop shafts — Joints (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Prop shafts > Joints
 Front 32 ×188.1 2.3% Likely common fault pattern
2 Chassis condition
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
 Any 79 ×15.0 5.8% Elevated vs peers
3 Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Other suspension component > Ball joint
 Front 21 ×13.3 1.5% Elevated vs peers
4 Chassis condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
 Rear 55 ×9.5 4.0% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
5 Wheel bearings (rear)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
 Rear 57 ×8.9 4.2% Elevated vs peers
6 Individual direction indicators (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
 Front 69 ×5.3 5.0% Likely common fault pattern
7 Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
 Front 139 ×4.0 10.1% Elevated vs peers
8 Wheel bearings (front)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
 Front 49 ×3.3 3.6% Possible elevated fault

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2012 Nissan Navara on this page. Among 1,370 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Chassis condition (rear) appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 38.2× more often than peers; 116 observed failures; 8.5% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Chassis condition (rear) (about 38.2× more often than peers; 116 observed failures; 8.5% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Chassis condition (rear) shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 38.2× more often than peers; 116 observed failures; 8.5% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2012 Nissan Navara include Chassis condition (rear), Malfunction indicator lamp. These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2012 Nissan Navara (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.
PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

  • MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
  • Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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