Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1999 Nissan Elgrand?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1999 Nissan Elgrand?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1999 Nissan Elgrand?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 1999 Nissan Elgrand vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

50% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1999 Nissan Elgrand reliable?

Based on MOT data from 495 vehicles, the 1999 Nissan Elgrand has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1999 Nissan Elgrand?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Nissan Elgrand are: Oil leak, but not excessive (54% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (53.5% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (48.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1999 Nissan Elgrand?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Nissan Elgrand (1999)

495 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.4% first-time pass rate

1999 Nissan Elgrand

CarHunch analysed 495 real MOT records for the 1999 Nissan Elgrand. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 495 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 1999 Nissan Elgrand is a below-average performer on MOT, with a 70.4% first-time pass rate against the UK average of 80%, and a serious concern: nearly half of all vehicles analysed (49.7%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point. Petrol and diesel variants show virtually identical pass rates (70.2% and 70.5%), so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

At 128,130 miles median, these are high-mileage vehicles for their age, yet they still accumulate 4.74 failures and nearly 27 advisories per test on average—suggesting wear and corrosion issues are endemic to the model. If you're considering this MPV, factor in regular maintenance costs and expect to budget for multiple repairs before each MOT; a pre-purchase inspection from a specialist familiar with Elgrands is essential.

The 1999 Nissan Elgrand has a below-average first-time pass rate (70.4% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

70.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

49.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.74

Over 14.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

128k

Middle half: 96k–160k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 26.9 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 495 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 495 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 54%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Brake wear 53.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 41.8%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 37.2%

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 495 Nissan Elgrand cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Nissan Elgrand

Based on MOT data from 495 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 49.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (69%)	344	70.5%	4.84
Petrol (30%)	148	70.2%	4.49

Colour Breakdown

Based on 17,414 Nissan Elgrand vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 45.9%

7,999

Black 29.2%

5,086

Silver 12.7%

2,203

Grey 5%

874

Purple 2.2%

382

Gold 2%

347

Blue 0.9%

155

Green 0.7%

122

Beige 0.5%

Maroon 0.4%

Red 0.3%

Brown 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Nissan Elgrand vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

128,130

typical

95,705

low mileage

159,856

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Nissan Elgrand vehicles fall between 95,705 and 159,856 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 95,705 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 95,705–159,856 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Nissan Elgrands sit.

⚠ Over 215,805 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1999 Nissan Elgrand — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 41% of 1999 Nissan Elgrands are still active.

Numbers are declining — 158 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (41% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

14.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.74

Avg failures per vehicle

26.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Nissan Elgrand: All Elgrand years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 1999 Nissan Elgrand stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on