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Nissan Patrol Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Nissan Patrol reliable? We analysed 80,444 real MOT tests across 7,979 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 80,444 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.9%
Typical Mileage
102,047mi
Annual Mileage
5,185mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Nissan Patrol is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded and body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Patrol.

Nissan Patrol Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Nissan Patrol. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Nissan Patrol MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Nissan Patrol to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

78.3%
2009
76.4%
2008
76.6%
2007
78.7%
2006
76.4%
2005
74.9%
2004
76.4%
2003
74.9%
2002
73.6%
2001
71.8%
2000
70.6%
1999
69.6%
1998
68%
1997
68.2%
1996
68.3%
1995
68.4%
1994
67.6%
1993
68.2%
1992
67%
1991
65.5%
1990

Nissan Patrol Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Nissan Patrol fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pipe excessively corroded 6,649
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 2,823
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 2,270
position lamp(s) not working 2,183
wheel bearing has excessive play 1,961
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 1,768
Stop lamp not working 1,753
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 1,648
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 1,642
Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint 1,494

Nissan Patrol Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Nissan Patrol owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,527 mi/yr
Typical
5,185 mi/yr
Average
6,469 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,666 mi/yr

Nissan Patrol MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Patrol year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2009 254 78.3% 58,818 89,272 118,856
2008 755 76.4% 38,580 61,757 97,372
2007 1,451 76.6% 42,308 69,771 103,360
2006 2,074 78.7% 47,255 74,050 106,732
2005 5,879 76.4% 50,355 77,595 109,590
2004 8,779 74.9% 56,234 87,118 121,622
2003 5,349 76.4% 59,534 89,626 123,214
2002 5,140 74.9% 61,767 90,618 126,050
2001 4,723 73.6% 68,368 93,718 121,848
2000 6,019 71.8% 74,600 99,486 125,300
1999 7,108 70.6% 77,039 101,565 128,991
1998 7,590 69.6% 84,476 107,542 132,348
1997 3,395 68.0% 82,571 106,740 137,986
1996 2,802 68.2% 90,612 116,352 148,050
1995 2,749 68.3% 95,510 123,231 154,478
1994 4,608 68.4% 97,126 125,852 163,446
1993 3,988 67.6% 100,783 127,879 163,762
1992 2,343 68.2% 91,316 119,412 147,232
1991 1,319 67.0% 97,505 123,283 159,663
1990 1,046 65.5% 98,839 123,061 167,541

How Long Does a Nissan Patrol Last?

Based on 7,979 Nissan Patrol vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.6 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Nissan Patrol Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Patrol MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
102,047 mi
75th Percentile
133,875 mi
95th Percentile
194,382 mi
Max Recorded
999,465 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan Patrol

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2006

78.7% MOT pass rate from 2,074 tests

Year to avoid
1986

64.9% MOT pass rate from 134 tests

The best year to buy a used Nissan Patrol is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 78.7% across 2,074 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Nissan Patrol Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Nissan Patrol THIS CAR 71.9% 80,444 102,047 mi 38 yrs
Nissan Micra 71.4% 10,566,512 55,214 mi 37 yrs
Nissan Qashqai 77.3% 6,506,323 59,398 mi 19 yrs
Nissan Juke 79.3% 3,002,435 49,593 mi 16 yrs
Aprilia Rsv 86.8% 87,683 13,065 mi 27 yrs

Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Patrol sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Nissan Patrol?

The Nissan Patrol has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.9% across 80,444 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Nissan Patrol are brake pipe excessively corroded (6,649 recorded failures), seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (2,823), and body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (2,270). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Nissan Patrol owner drives around 5,185 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Nissan Patrol models stay on UK roads for around 38 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Nissan Patrol — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nissan Patrol reliable?
Based on 80,444 MOT tests, the Nissan Patrol has a 71.9% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Nissan Patrol?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, and body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Nissan Patrol do per year?
The typical Nissan Patrol does around 5,185 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Nissan Patrol last?
Most Nissan Patrol models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 7,979 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Nissan Patrol?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Nissan Patrol?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Nissan Patrol is 2006 with a 78.7% pass rate across 2,074 tests.