Most modern cars have a plastic fuel tank and the fuel pump housing is also made of plastic.Perhaps the x trail is different?Not sure tbh.

Thanks for that Peter. Have been told that the pump casing has rusted through and that is the problem - we live in Scotland so I imagine quite prone to salt etc in the winter but does that sound plausible to you?

Did you find an alternative fuel pump? I bought a 2005 X-Trail diesel in July, and the lift pump "went" on me a couple of days ago -- same symptoms, fuel dripping out quite fast from somewhere around the rear axle. The mechanic got the pump out, but he was swearing like a trooper at whoever designed the thing, because it was very hard to access. Anyhow, the casing is steel and had rusted through. My X-Trail was Scottish (ex-police vehicle, as it happens). The mecahnic says the location of the pump is ridiculous, absolutely prone to rusting esp. where salt is used on the roads, in addition to being very hard to get at. So, how did your story end?