2015 Nissan Elgrand — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,710 MOT tests, the 2015 Nissan Elgrand recorded a 72.4% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (16.6% fail rate), the 2015 Elgrand comes out 11.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.4%) and suspension (13.7%) 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 220 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 29.5% versus 21.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.1% in 2021 to 25.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 443 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 371 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 244 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 170 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.3% | 144 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 117 |
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 | 220 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 185 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 147 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 120 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 116 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 106 |
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 | 28.6% | 774 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.6% | 749 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.3% | 660 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 363 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.0% | 244 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 185 |
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 | 180 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 586 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 747 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 606 | 31.2% |
| 150k+ | 572 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,586 | 27.3% |
| Diesel | 111 | 31.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 631 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 658 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 608 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 411 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 402 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Elgrand
On a 2015 Elgrand, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (9.0% 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 2015 Nissan Elgrands pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 2,710 2015 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Nissan Elgrand?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by suspension (13.7%).
Does the 2015 Elgrand get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.7% in the 30-60k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,710 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.