Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 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 2003 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 2003 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 2003 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 2003 Nissan Elgrand reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,299 vehicles, the 2003 Nissan Elgrand has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Nissan Elgrand?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Nissan Elgrand are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (53.4% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (47.2% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (39.8% 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 2003 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Nissan Elgrand (2003)

1,299 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.4% first-time pass rate

2003 Nissan Elgrand

CarHunch analysed 1,299 real MOT records for the 2003 Nissan Elgrand. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

The 2003 Nissan Elgrand passes its MOT first time only 75.3% of the time, which is 4.7 percentage points below the UK average—a modest but real reliability disadvantage. More concerning, nearly half of these vehicles (49.9%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, suggesting structural or safety issues that buyers should take seriously.

These Elgrands are running at around 109,000 miles on average, which is typical for their age, but they're racking up an average of 2.85 failures and 16 advisories per test—well above the norm for a vehicle of this mileage. Before buying, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension, brakes, and chassis work, and budget for remedial work on any advisories flagged during your own MOT check.

The 2003 Nissan Elgrand has a decent first-time pass rate (75.4%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

75.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

49.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.85

Over 10.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

108k

Middle half: 83k–135k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16 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 1,299 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,299 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 53.4%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Tyre wear 39.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Other issues 27.1%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 14.8%

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play

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

Lighting 14%

Rear fog lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,299 Nissan Elgrand cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Nissan Elgrand

Based on MOT data from 1,299 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 49.9% 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
Petrol (99%)	1,282	75.4%	2.84

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 2003 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.

108,024

typical

83,155

low mileage

135,304

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Nissan Elgrand vehicles fall between 83,155 and 135,304 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 83,155 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.

✓ 83,155–135,304 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Nissan Elgrands sit.

⚠ Over 182,660 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Nissan Elgrand — Still on the Road

Most 2003 Nissan Elgrands are still being driven.

Strong survival — 901 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 88% of the 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

10.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.85

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Nissan Elgrand stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing