Used car guide

2005 Mitsubishi Grandis: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Mitsubishi Grandiss, from 209 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 209 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

209MOT tests in 2025
52%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
6,000typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Mitsubishi Grandiss than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Headlights2.1× usual
    Mitsubishi Grandis
    29.7% All 2005 cars
    14.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.7%, against 4.9% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Track rod ends2.5× usual
    Mitsubishi Grandis
    15.3% All 2005 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 2.6% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Sub-frame2.2× usual
    Mitsubishi Grandis
    14.8% All 2005 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

By area

The share of 2005 Mitsubishi Grandis MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    59% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    54% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    49% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    32% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    21% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Steering
    17% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2009131Suspension 66%
2007127Suspension 51%
2006213Lights and electrics 55%
2004138Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Mitsubishi Grandiss registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score