2001 Nissan Elgrand — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Nissan Elgrand passed 72.2% of its 342 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.7 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 29.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.7%) and brakes (12.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and rear fog lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 23 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 26.0% in the 30-60k band and 31.1% in the 120-150k band, a 5.1-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 47 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 43 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.0% | 41 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 24 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 20 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 21 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 21 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 18 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 17 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 12 |
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 | 30.1% | 103 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.7% | 88 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.1% | 72 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 40 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 38 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 25 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 73 | 26.0% |
| 60-90k | 97 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 64 | 35.9% |
| 120-150k | 61 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37 | 21.6% |
| 2022 | 54 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 56 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 98 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 97 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Elgrand
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.6% 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.
- Suspension (12.0% 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.
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 2001 Nissan Elgrands pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 342 2001 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Nissan Elgrand?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by brakes (12.6%).
Does the 2001 Elgrand get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.0% in the 30-60k band to 31.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 342 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.