Used car guide

2008 Mitsubishi Grandis petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Mitsubishi Grandis first registered in 2008 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 150 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 150 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

150MOTs of 2008 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
57%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,000typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for headlights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2008 Mitsubishi Grandis petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2008 Mitsubishi Grandis petrol than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Headlights3.3× usual
    Mitsubishi Grandis
    30% All 2008 cars
    9.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.3%, against 4.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

Common 2008 Mitsubishi Grandis petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2008 Mitsubishi Grandis petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    47% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    42% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    39% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    35% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Rust and bodywork
    16% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2008 Mitsubishi Grandis petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2008 Mitsubishi Grandis petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. 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, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Mitsubishi Grandis compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2009467Suspension 59%
2007578Suspension 55%
2006823Lights and electrics 53%
2005802Suspension 53%
2004504Suspension 52%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Mitsubishi Grandis cars first registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score