Used car guide · 1997–2026

Nissan Elgrand common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Nissan Elgrand, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 40,005 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

40,005MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
191on the UK register
2010best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20262021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997

What usually goes wrong with a Nissan Elgrand?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Nissan Elgrand in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Nissan Elgrand MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Rear fog light

    up to 45× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    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.

  • Brake pads

    up to 4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 23× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Headlights

    up to 15.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 61× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2017 and 2019.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 18.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

Nissan Elgrand MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2010 Nissan Elgrand did best (76% passed first time, 16 points above all 2010 cars) and the 2021 did worst (66%, 21 points below all 2021 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202166%87% -211,379
202066%87% -211,534
201966%85% -191,387
201863%83% -201,274
201760%80% -201,690
201658%77% -191,430
201562%74% -121,128
201470%70% +0715
201374%67% +7742
201279%64% +15990
201177%62% +151,402
201076%60% +162,341
200973%59% +142,055
200871%57% +144,454
200770%57% +134,417
200669%56% +133,335
200567%57% +103,914
200464%57% +72,280
200360%57% +31,496
200259%58% +11,111
200159%60% -1193 (small sample)
200055%61% -6203 (small sample)
199957%63% -6240 (small sample)
199852%65% -13167 (small sample)
199752%65% -13128 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Nissan Elgrand

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the rear fog light? (Flagged at MOT 45× as often on the Nissan Elgrand as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the Nissan Elgrand as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 23× as often on the Nissan Elgrand as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Nissan Elgrand?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score