2011 Nissan Elgrand — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Nissan Elgrand passed 81.2% of its 2,354 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.0 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.9% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 125 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.5% versus 11.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.7% in 2021 to 18.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 280 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.2% | 194 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 179 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 89 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 72 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.6% | 62 |
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 | 125 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 110 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 80 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 70 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 68 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 66 |
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 | 23.1% | 543 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 469 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.2% | 405 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 162 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 149 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 145 |
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 | 341 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 875 | 12.1% |
| 90-120k | 540 | 21.7% |
| 120-150k | 271 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 298 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,885 | 15.7% |
| Diesel | 463 | 31.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 331 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 449 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 503 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 526 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 545 | 18.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Elgrand
On a 2011 Elgrand, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.2% 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 (7.6% 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 2011 Nissan Elgrands pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 2,354 2011 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Nissan Elgrand?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.9% of tests, followed by suspension (8.2%).
Does the 2011 Elgrand get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 30-60k band to 31.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,354 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.