Diesel Nissan Elgrand: MOT pass rate

61.5% of diesel Nissan Elgrands pass the MOT first time, measured across 504 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 145,390.

Diesel against the other Nissan Elgrand versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Nissan Elgrand specifically, petrol is the strongest at 72.8%, and this diesel version sits 10.9 points below the 72.4% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Nissan Elgrand fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Nissan Elgrand had covered 145,390 miles at test, against 89,965 for the petrol. That is very high mileage. Clutches, dual-mass flywheels and head gaskets have usually been through at least one repair by this point, so ask for evidence rather than assume the car is original everywhere.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Nissan Elgrand page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Nissan Elgrand

1. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 12.1% of tests (29.31x the national rate for this defect)
2. Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 5.4% of tests (23.51x the national rate for this defect)
3. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 20.4% of tests (21.59x the national rate for this defect)
4. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 4.6% of tests (10.49x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value, 3.3% of tests (8.92x the national rate for this defect)
6. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.6% of tests (7.49x the national rate for this defect)
7. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 6.7% of tests (6.3x the national rate for this defect)
8. Parking brake inoperative on one side, 3.7% of tests (6.13x the national rate for this defect)
9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 7.7% of tests (5.91x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 19% of tests (3.79x the national rate for this defect)

From 520 DVSA-tracked diesel Nissan Elgrand tests, 2024, split out from the Nissan Elgrand's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 3.18% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Nissan Elgrand

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 22.9% of tests (18.39x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 11.7% of tests (18.08x the national rate for this defect)
3. Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 5.2% of tests (17.87x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 12.3% of tests (8.11x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 31.7% of tests (5.12x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 41.5% of tests (3.11x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 15.8% of tests (2.84x the national rate for this defect)
8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 6.7% of tests (2.37x the national rate for this defect)
9. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 7.1% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
10. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 5.6% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect)

From 520 DVSA-tracked diesel Nissan Elgrand tests, 2024.

Other Nissan Elgrand fuel types

• Petrol Nissan Elgrand - 72.8%

All Nissan Elgrand MOT data · Every model