2017 Nissan X-Trail 1.6L Diesel · LD67 HHG

A pattern of rear-axle wear has emerged across three consecutive MOT tests on this X-Trail, with the rear tyres and rear brake pads flagged on every inspection from 2022 onwards. The most recent test on 13 October 2025 was largely clean aside from slightly worn front wiper blades, but the 2024 and 2023 advisories tell a more revealing story: both rear tyres were showing perishing and cracking on both nearside and offside sides in two successive years, while rear brake pads were noted as wearing thin in 2023 and again in 2024. Two tests in the sequence, October 2022 and October 2020, returned no advisories at all, so the current record reflects a slowly developing wear pattern rather than a sudden deterioration. None of the six recorded tests has resulted in a failure, which keeps the overall roadworthiness profile intact, but the recurrence of identical advisory categories warrants close mechanical attention before purchase. The mileage profile is unusually low for a nine-year-old vehicle, with just 42,670 miles recorded at an average accumulation of roughly 4,741 miles per year. Every annual test from 2020 through 2025 has been carried out within a tight October-to-October window, suggesting the vehicle has been used consistently rather than left laid up for extended periods. Low annual mileage of this nature reduces wear on high-stress components such as the clutch, turbocharger and drivetrain, but it can simultaneously accelerate sidewall deterioration on tyres that spend long periods stationary, a factor that may help explain the recurring rear-tyre perishing advisories. The steady year-on-year test pattern gives a reliable longitudinal view of the car's mechanical condition and rules out any prolonged off-road gaps that might otherwise raise concerns about seized calipers, degraded brake fluid or stale fuel. For a prospective buyer, the rear brake and tyre condition should be the immediate focus of any physical inspection and test drive. The recorded advisories specifically mention rear brake pad wear across two consecutive years, so the pads and discs should be measured for remaining friction material and checked for lipped or scored disc edges; on the road, listen for any graunching or squeal from the rear under light braking and feel for any pulling or uneven response that might indicate a binding rear caliper, particularly given the low-mileage usage that can encourage caliper slide corrosion. The rear tyres should be inspected closely for cracking in the sidewall grooves and between the tread blocks, as perishing has been flagged on both sides in successive years, and any replacement set should ideally be fitted in pairs to the rear axle to preserve handling balance. Beyond the flagged items, a few additional checks are worthwhile given the vehicle's age and mileage. The front wiper blades noted in the latest test are a simple consumable, but it is worth confirming they clear the screen cleanly without smearing across the full sweep. Suspension refinement deserves attention on a test drive: with low mileage, rubber bushes in the rear subframe and anti-roll bar linkages can harden and crack from age rather than wear, so listen for clonking over speed bumps and rough surfaces and feel for any vagueness through the steering wheel. Finally, although no corrosion advisories have been recorded, a visual check of the rear axle, exhaust mounting and underbody seams is prudent on any nine-year-old crossover, and a thorough service-history examination should be requested to confirm the timing chain, CVT transmission fluid and four-wheel-drive system have been attended to at the correct intervals, as these items fall outside the scope of MOT testing.