2020 Nissan Elgrand — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Nissan Elgrand passed 77.6% of its 3,558 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (11.3% fail rate), the 2020 Elgrand comes out 11.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.3% of all tests — 4.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and linkage ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 267 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.9% versus 9.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 473 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.7% | 310 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 231 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.3% | 189 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 144 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 98 |
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 | 267 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 150 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 129 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 121 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 117 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 111 |
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 | 24.6% | 877 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.1% | 820 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.1% | 678 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 367 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.9% | 281 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 152 |
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 | 33 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 540 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,358 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,011 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 471 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 143 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 776 | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 817 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 790 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 594 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 581 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Elgrand
On a 2020 Elgrand, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.7% 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 (6.5% 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 2020 Nissan Elgrands pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 3,558 2020 Nissan Elgrand MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Nissan Elgrand?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by suspension (8.7%).
Does the 2020 Elgrand get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,558 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.