Used car guide

2009 Nissan Elgrand: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Nissan Elgrands, from 807 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

807MOT tests in 2025
73%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
4,800typical miles a year
4.7×the usual rate for rear fog light

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Nissan Elgrands than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Rear fog light4.7× usual
    Nissan Elgrand
    5.2% All 2009 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 1% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Number plate lights: 2.5% here, against 8.8% of all 2009 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 5.3% here, against 11.1% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    22% 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
    21% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    19% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    3% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Looking at a Nissan Elgrand?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2010844Brakes 24%
20081,657Brakes 27%
20071,609Suspension 28%
20061,211Tyres 30%
20051,432Brakes 32%
2004836Suspension 35%
2003562Suspension 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Nissan Elgrands registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score