2014 Nissan Elgrand — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Nissan Elgrand passed 76.5% of its 1,488 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 18.8% of the time, so this is 4.7pp worse 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 (12.6%) and suspension (11.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 97 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.7% versus 9.6%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.8% in 2021 to 18.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 188 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.2% | 167 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 128 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 76 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 67 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 66 |
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 | 97 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 80 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 76 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 60 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 53 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 51 |
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 | 29.2% | 434 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.8% | 429 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.9% | 355 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 196 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 144 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 133 |
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 | 135 | 9.6% |
| 60-90k | 304 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 431 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 318 | 25.5% |
| 150k+ | 289 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,384 | 23.3% |
| Diesel | 104 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 329 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 312 | 24.7% |
| 2023 | 325 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 249 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 273 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Elgrand
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.2% 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 (8.6% 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 2014 Nissan Elgrands pass their MOT?
76.5% of the 1,488 2014 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Nissan Elgrand?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by suspension (11.2%).
Does the 2014 Elgrand get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 30-60k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,488 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.