2010 Renault Espace — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Renault Espace passed 69.2% of its 877 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 5.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.3%) and suspension (14.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and coil spring — ball joint alone was recorded 73 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.6% in the 30-60k band and 33.5% in the 150k+ band, a 12.0-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.9% in 2021 to 28.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 143 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.9% | 131 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.7% | 85 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.9% | 69 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 46 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 42 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 73 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 71 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 68 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 54 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 51 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 37 |
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 | 30.9% | 271 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.0% | 237 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.2% | 186 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.5% | 162 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 92 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 66 |
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 | 51 | 21.6% |
| 60-90k | 211 | 30.8% |
| 90-120k | 225 | 32.0% |
| 120-150k | 216 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 167 | 33.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 207 | 30.9% |
| 2022 | 206 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 184 | 32.6% |
| 2024 | 155 | 33.6% |
| 2025 | 125 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Espace
On a 2010 Espace, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.9% 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 (9.7% 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 2010 Renault Espaces pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 877 2010 Renault Espace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Renault Espace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (14.9%).
Does the 2010 Espace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.6% in the 30-60k band to 33.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 877 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.