2002 Renault Espace — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Renault Espace passed 66.8% of its 603 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (29.8% fail rate), the 2002 Espace comes out 3.4pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.6%) and brakes (13.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, washers and exhaust system — wipers alone was recorded 53 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 41.8% versus 36.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 44.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.5% in 2021 to 33.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.6% | 82 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 81 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 73 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 65 |
| 5 | Visibility | 10.3% | 62 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 44 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 53 |
| 2 | Washers | 39 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 34 |
| 4 | Joints | 32 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 32 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 29 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 44.8% | 270 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.8% | 216 |
| 3 | Tyres | 33.7% | 203 |
| 4 | Other defects | 33.2% | 200 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.7% | 125 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 96 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 49 | 36.7% |
| 60-90k | 132 | 30.3% |
| 90-120k | 195 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 102 | 27.5% |
| 150k+ | 110 | 41.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 387 | 33.3% |
| Diesel | 216 | 32.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 200 | 36.5% |
| 2022 | 154 | 32.5% |
| 2023 | 109 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 77 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 63 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Espace
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (13.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2002 Renault Espaces pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 603 2002 Renault Espace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Renault Espace?
Suspension, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by brakes (13.4%).
Does the 2002 Espace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 36.7% in the 30-60k band to 41.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 603 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.