2009 Nissan Elgrand — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,270 MOT tests, the 2009 Nissan Elgrand recorded an 81.2% pass rate. That is 9.1 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 27.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests against 7.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, linkage ball joint dust cover and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 168 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.1% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 18.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.0% in 2021 to 18.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 359 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.9% | 258 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.2% | 202 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 148 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.1% | 135 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 83 |
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 | 168 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 109 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 98 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 96 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 88 |
| 6 | Wipers | 88 |
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 | 18.5% | 606 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.9% | 585 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.2% | 562 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 238 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.1% | 166 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 131 |
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 | 51 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 662 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,425 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 715 | 22.9% |
| 120-150k | 242 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 166 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,968 | 17.1% |
| Diesel | 296 | 34.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 348 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 543 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 673 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 793 | 18.8% |
| 2025 | 913 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Elgrand
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.9% 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 (6.2% 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 2009 Nissan Elgrands pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 3,270 2009 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Nissan Elgrand?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by suspension (7.9%).
Does the 2009 Elgrand get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,270 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.