Used car guide

2012 Nissan Elgrand: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Nissan Elgrands, from 378 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 378 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

378MOT tests in 2025
79%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
6,000typical miles a year
2.9×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Nissan Elgrands than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.9× usual
    Nissan Elgrand
    8.5% All 2012 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 1.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 5.8% here, against 14.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    28% 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.

  • Brakes
    21% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    20% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    19% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    5% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Nissan Elgrand?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021408Brakes 35%
2020466Suspension 34%
2019412Suspension 35%
2018376Suspension 35%
2017479Suspension 38%
2016408Suspension 41%
2015314Suspension 37%
2014243Suspension 28%
2013271Suspension 26%
2011489Suspension 31%
2010844Suspension 24%
2009807Brakes 22%
20081,657Brakes 27%
20071,609Suspension 28%
20061,211Suspension 30%
20051,432Suspension 32%
2004836Suspension 35%
2003562Suspension 40%
2002430Suspension 37%
1999106Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Nissan Elgrands registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score