2005 Nissan Elgrand — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,130 MOT tests, the 2005 Nissan Elgrand recorded a 77.7% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 30.1% of the time, so this is 7.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.2%) and suspension (10.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and brake pads — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 457 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.1% versus 9.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 866 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.0% | 713 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 462 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 359 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 260 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 210 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 457 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 289 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 263 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 262 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 258 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 233 |
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 | 22.9% | 1,636 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.7% | 1,546 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.5% | 1,465 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 790 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.4% | 530 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.3% | 377 |
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 | 152 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,300 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,681 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,791 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 782 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 417 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 991 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 1,264 | 19.0% |
| 2023 | 1,391 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 1,698 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 1,786 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Elgrand
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.0% 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.
- Brakes (6.5% 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 2005 Nissan Elgrands pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 7,130 2005 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Nissan Elgrand?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by suspension (10.0%).
Does the 2005 Elgrand get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,130 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.