2004 Renault Grand Espace — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 568 MOT tests, the 2004 Renault Grand Espace recorded a 68.8% pass rate. That is 3.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.3%) and brakes (14.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, track rod end and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 44 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.0% in the 30-60k band and 36.1% in the 150k+ band, a 16.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.6% in 2021 to 25.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 98 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 82 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 74 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.5% | 48 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 32 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 28 |
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 | 44 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 44 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 42 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 34 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 28 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 24 |
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 | 36.3% | 206 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.0% | 182 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 29.4% | 167 |
| 4 | Suspension | 26.9% | 153 |
| 5 | Other defects | 26.4% | 150 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 22.7% | 129 |
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 | 30 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 108 | 30.6% |
| 90-120k | 224 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 130 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 61 | 36.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 366 | 31.1% |
| Petrol | 202 | 31.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 187 | 32.6% |
| 2022 | 134 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 117 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 75 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 55 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Grand Espace
On a 2004 Grand Espace, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.4% 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.
- Suspension (13.0% 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.
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 Grand Espaces pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 568 2004 Renault Grand Espace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Renault Grand Espace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by brakes (14.4%).
Does the 2004 Grand Espace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 36.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 568 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.