Nissan X-Trail 2014-2021 Reliability & Common Problems

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Pros

Despite concerns, many owners have reported few issues

Cons

Ranks poorly in some surveys

Is the Nissan X-Trail reliable?

Dissapointingly the X-Trail has ranked poorly in some reliability surveys - with that in mind, look out for these common problems:

Engine: A clogged DPF filter can afflict the diesel engine range. A long drive at a high RPM can clear it, but best get it cleaned by a specialist. A rattling noise, loss of power or a rough idle are signs of a failing timing chain.

It can stretch and snap towards the end of its life. Replace at 100,000 miles. Oil leaks from the timing cover are common so look out for droplets under the car. It can cost £1000-£1500 for parts and labour. Oil lines to the turbocharger are also prone to leaks.

Gearbox: Any vibrations at speed or juddering when pulling away could indicate that the clutch and dual-mass flywheel are on their way out. A new flywheel can cost between £300 and £800. Slipping gears, shuddering when pulling away from standstill or an unusual whining or humming are all warning signs of a worn CVT gearbox.

Worn belts and pulleys inside the 'box, a lack of oil or overheating are all known to cause premature failure. Check the gearbox has been regularly serviced with the CVT fluid.

Air conditioning: Electronic control unit can fall, preventing the air-con from operating properly. If the fan speed is poor, replace the blower motor resistor, which should cost no more than £20.

Interior: Inspect the headliner for stains as the sunroof drains can get blocked by debris, causing water to leak into the cabin.

Infotainment and cameras: A frozen infotainment screen isn't uncommon so check it works as it should. Parking cameras can also suffer from electrical glitches.

An Owner’s view

Antony Ward: "We bought our 1.7-litre diesel X-Trail Tekna earlier this year. My wife had a few demands (tall, manual, sunroof) and the X-Trail seemed to fit the bill. It feels very sturdy and well built, has all the bells and whistles and is spacious and comfortable. It cruised along nicely on a recent trip to France, delivering 48.4mpg. The only real gripe is the lack of Apple CarPlay, which is a surprise considering its age. Still, that's a first-world problem and so far the X-Trail has been a good purchase."

Also worth knowing

Entry-level Visia trim is a bit basic, so aim for at least Acenta, which gets dual-zone climate control, a panoramic roof and rear parking sensors. N-Tec receives a bigger screen but we would opt for the top-rung Tekna, which has a leather interior, heated seats and a better sound system. N-Connecta, added as part of the facelift in 2017, is widely available and gets a 7in touchscreen. The X-Trail secured a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2014.

Sam Phillips

Title: Staff Writer

Sam joined the Autocar team in summer 2024 and has been a contributor since 2021. He is tasked with writing used reviews and first drives as well as updating top 10s and evergreen content on the Autocar website.

He previously led sister-title Move Electric, which covers the entire spectrum of electric vehicles, from cars to boats – and even trucks. He is an expert in new car news, used cars, electric cars, microbility, classic cars and motorsport.

Sam graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 with a BA in Journalism. In his final year he produced an in-depth feature on the automotive industry’s transition to electric cars and interviewed a number of leading experts to assess our readiness for the impending ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.

Matt Saunders

Title: Road test editor

As Autocar’s chief car tester and reviewer, it’s Matt’s job to ensure the quality, objectivity, relevance and rigour of the entirety of Autocar’s reviews output, as well contributing a great many detailed road tests, group tests and drive reviews himself.

Matt has been an Autocar staffer since the autumn of 2003, and has been lucky enough to work alongside some of the magazine’s best-known writers and contributors over that time. He served as staff writer, features editor, assistant editor and digital editor, before joining the road test desk in 2011.

Since then he’s driven, measured, lap-timed, figured, and reported on cars as varied as the Bugatti Veyron, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Tesla Roadster, Ariel Hipercar, Tata Nano, McLaren Senna, Renault Twizy and Toyota Mirai. Among his wider personal highlights of the job have been covering Sebastien Loeb’s record-breaking run at Pikes Peak in 2013; doing 190mph on derestricted German autobahn in a Brabus Rocket; and driving McLaren’s legendary ‘XP5’ F1 prototype. His own car is a trusty Mazda CX-5.