1998 Nissan Elgrand — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 289 MOT tests, the 1998 Nissan Elgrand recorded a 65.4% pass rate. That is 4.1 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 30.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (19.0%) and lighting & signalling (18.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rigid brake pipes and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 59 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 Elgrand fails 32.5% of the time in the 60-90k band and 36.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.5 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 45.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 39.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.0% | 55 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 52 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.6% | 48 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 34 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.3% | 27 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.3% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 59 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 35 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 25 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 25 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 23 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 22 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 45.0% | 130 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.0% | 104 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.3% | 73 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.1% | 61 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.0% | 29 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 28 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 40 | 32.5% |
| 90-120k | 70 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 60 | 40.0% |
| 150k+ | 89 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 200 | 35.0% |
| Petrol | 89 | 33.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 40 | 40.0% |
| 2023 | 31 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 100 | 34.0% |
| 2025 | 77 | 39.0% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Elgrand
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (18.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.6% 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
How many 1998 Nissan Elgrands pass their MOT?
65.4% of the 289 1998 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Nissan Elgrand?
Suspension, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.0%).
Does the 1998 Elgrand get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.5% in the 60-90k band to 36.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 289 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.