Nissan Elgrand Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Nissan Elgrand fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 31,363 MOT tests across 24 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: performance | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
81%
Nissan Elgrand pass rate
81%
Nissan average
82%
All-model average
The Nissan Elgrand has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, which is equal to the Nissan average and 1 point below the average across all models in our data. The Nissan Elgrand has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 0 percentage points.
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What the Nissan Elgrand Fails Its MOT On
Of the 4,563 MOT tests on the Nissan Elgrand that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
46%Cars and vans the same age: 43% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
38%Cars and vans the same age: 35% · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
28%Cars and vans the same age: 26% · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
20%Cars and vans the same age: 20% · Typical repair £50-£300
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
16%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Position lamp: not working (11% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick (11% of failed tests, brakes)
- Rear fog lamp: not working (9.9% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Nissan Elgrand Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Elgrand year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Nissan Elgrand Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Petrol | 3.5L | 78% | 22% | 93% (-15) |
| 2020 | Petrol | 3.5L | 75% | 25% | 92% (-17) |
| 2019 | Petrol | 3.5L | 77% | 22% | 91% (-14) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 3.5L | 74% | 26% | 89% (-15) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 3.5L | 74% | 26% | 87% (-13) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 2.5L | 70% | 27% | 86% (-16) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 3.5L | 74% | 26% | - |
| 2014 | Petrol | 3.5L | 80% | 19% | - |
| 2013 | Petrol | 2.5L | 85% | 14% | - |
| 2012 | Petrol | 3.5L | 88% | 11% | - |
| 2011 | Petrol | 3.5L | 86% | 14% | 77% (+9) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 2.5L | 86% | 13% | 75% (+11) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 2.5L | 85% | 14% | 75% (+10) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 3.5L | 84% | 15% | 74% (+10) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 3.5L | 84% | 16% | 73% (+11) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 3.5L | 81% | 18% | 73% (+8) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 3.5L | 81% | 18% | 73% (+8) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 3.5L | 78% | 21% | 72% (+6) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 3.5L | 76% | 23% | - |
| 2002 | Petrol | 2.5L | 77% | 23% | - |
| 2001 | Petrol | 3.5L | 69% | 31% | - |
| 2000 | Diesel | 3.0L | 78% | 21% | - |
| 1999 | Petrol | 3.3L | 73% | 25% | - |
| 1998 | Diesel | 3.2L | 68% | 32% | - |
Nissan Elgrand Running Costs
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Nissan Elgrand FAQ
What are the most common Nissan Elgrand problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Nissan Elgrand that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (46% of the 4,563 failed tests), suspension (38%) and brakes (28%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (11%). Across 31,363 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 81% ended in a pass.
Is the Nissan Elgrand reliable?
The Nissan Elgrand has an average MOT pass rate of 81%, from 31,363 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 3 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.
Which Nissan Elgrand years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2020 (75% of 1,283 tests passed, against 92% for all 2020 cars), the 2016 (70% of 1,161 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars) and the 2021 (78% of 1,200 tests passed, against 93% for all 2021 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2007 (84% of 3,622 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars), the 2010 (86% of 2,008 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars) and the 2008 (84% of 3,599 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Nissan Elgrand faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Nissan Elgrand typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
Check a Specific Nissan Elgrand
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Other Nissan Models
Common problems pages for other Nissan models