Mitsubishi Grandis MOT pass rate & common failures
The Mitsubishi Grandis appears in 9,682 MOT tests spanning model years 1999–2021, and 70.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (29.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.9% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and position lamp — headlamp alone was recorded 1,009 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.5% in the 0-30k band and 33.9% in the 150k+ band, a 24.4-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.8pp more often than petrol ones (31.4% vs 28.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Grandis model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,288 | 67.9% | 32.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 2,223 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 2,311 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 1,660 | 69.5% | 30.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 737 | 71.2% | 28.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 1,299 | 69.4% | 30.6% | Suspension |
| 2014 | 44 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 1,931 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.6% | 1,607 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.3% | 1,002 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 852 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.3% | 615 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 608 |
| 7 | Steering | 6.2% | 599 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 471 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 1,009 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 971 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 887 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 640 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 536 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 529 |
| 7 | Suspension arm | 496 |
| 8 | Wipers | 431 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.0% | 3,674 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.3% | 3,124 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.0% | 2,905 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 26.4% | 2,553 |
| 5 | Other defects | 25.4% | 2,464 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 1,329 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 42 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 340 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,420 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,051 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,876 | 31.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,951 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,868 | 31.4% |
| Petrol | 4,814 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,822 | 30.0% |
| 2022 | 2,358 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 1,860 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 1,487 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 1,155 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi Grandis
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (10.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mitsubishi Grandis?
70.0% of the 9,682 Mitsubishi Grandis MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.0% fail rate, across model years 1999–2021.
What does the Mitsubishi Grandis most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, then suspension (16.6%).
How much does mileage affect Grandis MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.9% for 150k+, a 24.4-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Grandis more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 28.6% of the time against 31.4% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,682 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.