2006 Renault Grand Espace — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Renault Grand Espace passed 68.0% of its 1,109 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.2% of the time, so this is 4.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.2%) and lighting & signalling (15.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint and coil spring — track rod end alone was recorded 82 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2006 Grand Espace fails 27.4% of the time in the 60-90k band and 31.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.7% in 2021 to 27.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.2% | 180 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 176 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.3% | 147 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.2% | 80 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.1% | 68 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 43 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 82 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 74 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 68 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 61 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 54 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 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 | 35.8% | 397 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.9% | 376 |
| 3 | Other defects | 30.9% | 343 |
| 4 | Tyres | 29.8% | 331 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 23.8% | 264 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 233 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 164 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 382 | 32.7% |
| 120-150k | 350 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 193 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 994 | 32.6% |
| Petrol | 115 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 338 | 31.7% |
| 2022 | 277 | 35.0% |
| 2023 | 216 | 31.0% |
| 2024 | 156 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 122 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Grand Espace
On a 2006 Grand Espace, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.3% 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 2006 Renault Grand Espaces pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 1,109 2006 Renault Grand Espace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Renault Grand Espace?
Suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.9%).
Does the 2006 Grand Espace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.4% in the 60-90k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,109 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.