Model Reports 8 min read Updated 11 Sep 2026 DVSA open data · 592 tests analysed

Nissan Pathfinder 2006: reliability & common MOT faults

285 first-attempt MOT failures were recorded on the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder in 2025. Figures are among first-attempt failed MOT tests, not among all tests.

First-attempt pass rate 51.9% across 592 tests in 2025. On 592 tests that is too small a sample to separate this year from the Pathfinders either side of it — treat the recorded failures as a checklist, not as a verdict on the year.

First-attempt pass

51.9%

of 592 first tests (2025)

First tests

592

test year 2025

Failed first attempts

285

failed first-attempt tests

MOT pass rates

First-attempt and official-style rates among class 4 first tests of the year.

First-attempt pass

51.9%

of 592 first tests (2025)

Official-style pass

57.1%

incl. same-day PRS fixes

First tests

592

class 4 · first MOT of the year

Typical age 19.0 yrs · median mileage 147,900 mi

vs 2024: +2.5 pp first-attempt

Note:

  • Class 4 cars · first MOT of the year per vehicle · P/PRS/F outcomes (2025 data).
  • PRS (fixed at the station the same day) counts as a fail in the first-attempt rate.
  • Raw outcomes for this cohort — not adjusted for age, mileage, or peer mix.
  • MOT doesn't test engine or gearbox internals.

Common faults

Failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars.

These MOT failure patterns show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age, and mileage.

Shares below are measured across the 285 failed first attempts in 2025 that the age-and-mileage comparison can be computed on.

Standout: Door condition (rear) — 9.1% of this year's failed first attempts

Recorded on 26 of those tests. It tops the table on elevation — about 19× more often than on similar cars of the same age and mileage. The full ranked list is in the table below.

No patterns met the strongest callout thresholds on this page; showing the highest-lift rows that still cleared the display floors.

Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
Door condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Doors > Other passenger's door > Door condition
 Rear 26 ×19 9.1% Possible
Chassis condition (rear)
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
 Rear 46 ×10 16.1% Likely
Wheel bearings (rear)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
 Rear 20 ×4.9 7.0% Possible
Track rod end (front)
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
 Front 33 ×2.4 11.6% Possible
Coil spring (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
 Rear 20 ×2.1 7.0% Possible

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and about 2.0× more often than similar cars).

Note: Rates and comparisons are among first-attempt failed tests, not all MOTs. Patterns come from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer service bulletins, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Failures and advisories are listed separately.

Advisories

Notes recorded at the test that appear more often than on similar cars.

Advisory notes recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear more often than on similar cars.

Advisory pattern Location Notes vs similar cars Share Confidence
Chassis condition
Body, chassis, structure > Chassis > Chassis condition
 Any 32 ×7.4 11.2% Elevated
Linkage ball joints (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
 Rear 23 ×6.2 8.1% Elevated
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
 Front 30 ×3.4 10.5% Elevated
Note: Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

If you are buying one

What this year's MOT record means for the decision in front of you.

There are too few 2006 Pathfinders in the data to call this year good or bad. Judge the individual car, not the year.

Every figure here is a first-attempt MOT rate from DVSA open data for this model line. MOTs do not test engine or gearbox internals, so this is a pre-purchase checklist, not a full reliability score.

FAQs

Short answers about how to read this model-year guide.

On 592 tests that is too small a sample to separate this year from the Pathfinders either side of it — treat the recorded failures as a checklist, not as a verdict on the year. In 2025, 51.9% of 592 first MOTs on the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder passed first time (PRS — items fixed at the station the same day — counted as a fail). The official-style rate including PRS is 57.1%. Among 285 failed first-attempt MOT tests (te…
Among failed first-attempt tests we highlight patterns that appear more often than on similar cars. Top example: Door condition (rear) (9.1% of those tests; 26 observed failures; about 19× more often than similar cars). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Door condition (rear) shows up more often than on similar cars (9.1% of those tests; 26 observed failures; about 19× more often than similar cars). That does not prove a design fault — age, mileage, and how the car was used still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer service bulletin.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder include Door condition (rear), Chassis condition (rear), Wheel bearings (rear). These patterns show up more often than on similar cars after we filter out sparse noise — 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 appear more often than on similar cars 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 MOT failure patterns for the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are compared with cars of a similar age and mileage. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer service-bulletin 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.

About this data

How this page is built and what it can (and can't) say.

These figures come from UK MOT open data for this model year. We surface common failure patterns against similar cars — not a full reliability score, and not a pass/fail verdict on any individual vehicle.

2024 2025

What we include

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

Same-day repairs

PRS means the car 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.

How we compare

We compare this model year with other Class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year. This model family is left out of the peer group so the car is not measured against itself.

What this does not cover

  • MOTs do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronics — this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults come from MOT defect stats, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Age and mileage matching reduces — but does not remove — differences in how cars were used and maintained.
  • We never invent pass rates, star scores, or ranks when those data marts are missing.

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

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