CriticalCommonSuspension

Nissan Elgrand: Front Lower Arm Ball Joint Deterioration

Front Lower Arm Ball Joint Deterioration is a common suspension fault on the Nissan Elgrand on the 2002–2010 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $600 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 17 documented faults on the Nissan Elgrand.

Vehicle: Nissan Elgrand
Years: 2002–2010
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: auto
System: Suspension

This page covers the Nissan Elgrand as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Elgrand faults17 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

What goes wrong

The front lower control arm ball joints on the E51 Elgrand are a sealed, non-serviceable design that deteriorates with age and mileage. The rubber boot protecting the grease-packed joint cracks with UV exposure and thermal cycling, allowing moisture and dirt ingress that accelerates joint wear. On a heavy vehicle like the Elgrand, worn ball joints cause vague and wandering steering, uneven tyre wear, and clunking over bumps. In an advanced failure state the joint can pull apart causing sudden loss of steering control, making this a safety-critical fault. Many E51 Elgrands imported to NZ and AU from Japan arrive with the original never-replaced ball joints at ages of 15 to 20 years.

What you would notice

Clunking or knocking noise from the front suspension over bumps or during cornering
Vague, wandering, or imprecise steering feel particularly at motorway speeds
Vehicle pulling to one side under braking
Uneven or accelerated tyre wear on the front axle
Visible cracked or split dust boot on the ball joint when inspected from underneath

How to check it

Where to look. Front lower control arm, inboard of the front wheel hub, one each side

Any play felt at the ball joint indicates failure. Visually inspect the ball joint dust boots for cracking, splitting, or grease leakage. Check for clunking under load by having an assistant rock the steering while you observe the joint. Note that lower arm replacement as an assembly is often required as joints are pressed into the arm. If a workshop inspection is possible: With the vehicle raised on a hoist, grasp each front wheel at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions and attempt to rock it.

Parts involved: Ball joint.

What it costs to put right

$600 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the front lower arm ball joints been inspected or replaced and when?”
“Has any clunking been noticed from the front suspension over rough roads or speed bumps?”
“Does the vehicle pull to one side or feel vague in straight-line driving?”
“Is there a current WoF certificate and did the inspection note any suspension play?”

Now check the Nissan Elgrand you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Elgrand buyer questions

Is front lower arm ball joint deterioration serious on a Nissan Elgrand?

We rate it critical and common on the Nissan Elgrand. The front lower control arm ball joints on the E51 Elgrand are a sealed, non-serviceable design that deteriorates with age and mileage. The rubber boot protecting the grease-packed joint cracks with UV exposure and thermal cycling, allowing moisture and dirt ingress that accelerates joint wear. On a heavy vehicle like the Elgrand, worn ball joints cause vague and wandering steering, uneven tyre wear, and clunking over bumps. In an advanced failure state the joint can pull apart causing sudden loss of steering control, making this a safety-critical fault. Many E51 Elgrands imported to NZ and AU from Japan arrive with the original never-replaced ball joints at ages of 15 to 20 years.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Elgrand?

$600 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Elgrand years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2002–2010 Nissan Elgrand. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.