Used car guide · 2004–2009

Mitsubishi Grandis common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Mitsubishi Grandis, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 3,458 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

3,458MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
1,036on the UK register
2005best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

200920082007200620052004

What usually goes wrong with a Mitsubishi Grandis?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Mitsubishi Grandis in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Mitsubishi Grandis MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Engine warning light

    up to 3.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

Mitsubishi Grandis MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2005 Mitsubishi Grandis did best (53% passed first time, 4 points below all 2005 cars) and the 2007 did worst (52%, 5 points below all 2007 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200949%59% -10467 (small sample)
200854%57% -3284 (small sample)
200752%57% -5578
200651%56% -5823
200553%57% -4802
200450%57% -7504

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Mitsubishi Grandis

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the steering rack inner joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Mitsubishi Grandis as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the Mitsubishi Grandis as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the Mitsubishi Grandis as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mitsubishi Grandis?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score