MPV and people carrier · 1997–2021 cars

Nissan Elgrand reliability

The Nissan Elgrand fails 29% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 46,235 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 65/100#9 of 49 mpv and people carriers

Checking a Nissan Elgrand before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 29%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 17% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 46,235; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 14,800; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Nissan Elgrand ages

Each point is the share of Nissan Elgrands of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Nissan ElgrandAll cars

Nissan Elgrand first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Nissan Elgrand	All cars
3	32.8%	12.3%
4	34.9%	14.1%
5	38.5%	16.4%
6	41%	19.1%
7	40%	22.1%
8	39.1%	25.5%
9	33.5%	28.8%
10	25.5%	31.8%
11	20.8%	34.6%
12	21.5%	37.3%
13	20.2%	39.5%
14	23.2%	41.1%
15	25.2%	42.3%
16	24.7%	42.9%
17	26.5%	43.4%
18	29%	43.5%
19	29%	43.4%
20	36.4%	42.8%
21	37.6%	41.4%
22	44.9%	40.6%

By year

The best and worst Nissan Elgrand years

2010 cars come out best and 2020 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Nissan Elgrand MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	511	31.9%	50% more fails	82,436
2020 Elgrand	1,177	35.9%	69% more fails	87,439
2019 Elgrand	1,614	32.4%	52% more fails	86,650
2018 Elgrand	1,764	37.5%	69% more fails	90,484
2017 Elgrand	2,515	39.2%	63% more fails	97,981
2016 Elgrand	2,049	41%	54% more fails	102,132
2015 Elgrand	1,667	38.8%	33% more fails	107,243
2014 Elgrand	1,040	29.6%	4% fewer fails	100,644
2013 Elgrand	1,268	25.6%	21% fewer fails	80,861
2012 Elgrand	1,304	19.4%	42% fewer fails	75,196
2011 Elgrand	1,914	22.6%	38% fewer fails	79,486
2010 Elgrand	2,956	19.8%	46% fewer fails	73,651
2009 Elgrand	2,401	22.7%	40% fewer fails	72,000
2008 Elgrand	5,358	24.8%	37% fewer fails	73,572
2007 Elgrand	5,301	25.4%	36% fewer fails	74,382
2006 Elgrand	3,742	26.8%	32% fewer fails	71,450
2005 Elgrand	4,312	27.1%	33% fewer fails	76,265
2004 Elgrand	2,339	31.6%	22% fewer fails	77,651
2003 Elgrand	1,445	35%	15% fewer fails	81,264
2002	964	39.5%	3% fewer fails	85,861

Common problems

What fails most on a Nissan Elgrand

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics13.9%10% below avg
Suspension11.1%7% below avg
Brakes8%9% below avg
Tyres5.4%17% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.5%23% below avg
Body, chassis and structure3.7%29% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.2%28% below avg
Steering1.7%28% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1%32% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Rear fog lamp not working 2.6% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
2
Position lamp not working 2.54% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.43% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
4
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 2.08% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.85% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
6
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.85% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
7
CV joint boot split or insecure 1.67% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
8
Rear fog lamp not steady red 1.61% of tests
A rear fog lamp that is not steady red can confuse following drivers, so the bulb or wiring needs checking.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Nissan Elgrand's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit11.37%
Brake pads wearing thin8.98%
Brake disc pitted or scored6.3%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear3.81%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking3.48%
Linkage ball joint slight play2.53%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Nissan Elgrand

1
Rear fog lamp not working
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
4
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Nissan Elgrand covers about 14,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol94.8%
Diesel4.6%
LPG0.5%
Hybrid0.1%
Other0%

Most common colours

White, Black, Silver, Grey, Purple

Average engine size: 3.1 litres.

Compare

How the Nissan Elgrand compares with its rivals

Nissan Elgrand against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Mercedes-Benz V-Class	17%	24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Nissan Elgrand	29%	17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volkswagen Caravelle	33.5%	4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
SEAT Altea	41.2%	4% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Tourneo	25.6%	10% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Carens	35.6%	25% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën C4 Grand Picasso	28.6%	49% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier reliability index, or all Nissan models.

Questions

Nissan Elgrand questions, answered

Is the Nissan Elgrand reliable?

On MOT results, the Nissan Elgrand is better than average: it fails 29% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 9 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.

What fails most on a Nissan Elgrand MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Nissan Elgrand are rear fog lamp not working (2.6% of tests), position lamp not working (2.54% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (2.43% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 13.9% of its tests.

Which Nissan Elgrand year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2010 cars do best (46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2020 cars do worst (69% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Nissan Elgrand do a year?

A typical Nissan Elgrand covers about 14,800 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Nissan Elgrand before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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