2004 Renault Espace — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 767 MOT tests, the 2004 Renault Espace recorded a 71.1% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (30.1% fail rate), the 2004 Espace comes out 1.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests against 11.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 89 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 27.3% versus 20.0%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 32.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.7% in 2021 to 24.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 136 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.9% | 91 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.7% | 90 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.7% | 51 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 45 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 43 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 89 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 71 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 47 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 45 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 43 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 31 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 32.7% | 251 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.2% | 239 |
| 3 | Other defects | 30.6% | 235 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 28.7% | 220 |
| 5 | Suspension | 28.4% | 218 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 22.8% | 175 |
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 | 70 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 156 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 277 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 137 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 99 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 386 | 26.9% |
| Petrol | 381 | 31.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 263 | 29.7% |
| 2022 | 196 | 28.1% |
| 2023 | 137 | 29.9% |
| 2024 | 102 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 69 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Espace
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.9% 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 (11.7% 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.
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 2004 Renault Espaces pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 767 2004 Renault Espace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Renault Espace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by suspension (11.9%).
Does the 2004 Espace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 767 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.