2008 Nissan Elgrand — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Nissan Elgrand passed 80.9% of its 7,446 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 28.8% of the time, so this is 9.8pp 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 (10.3%) and suspension (8.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, tread depth and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 355 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.1% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 15.8pp more often than petrol ones (33.6% vs 17.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 19.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 767 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.3% | 620 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 450 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.9% | 362 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 271 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 230 |
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 | 355 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 256 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 235 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 224 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 212 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 202 |
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 | 19.4% | 1,448 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.4% | 1,370 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.0% | 1,337 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 559 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.5% | 406 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 250 |
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 | 103 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,381 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,149 | 16.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,676 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 601 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 525 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,865 | 17.8% |
| Diesel | 574 | 33.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 920 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 1,227 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 1,554 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 1,784 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 1,961 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Elgrand
On a 2008 Elgrand, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% 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 (6.0% 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 2008 Nissan Elgrands pass their MOT?
80.9% of the 7,446 2008 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Nissan Elgrand?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by suspension (8.3%).
Does the 2008 Elgrand get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,446 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.