2007 Renault Grand Espace — MOT failures & pass rate
2,826 MOT tests on the 2007 Renault Grand Espace are in this dataset, and 68.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.8% of the time, so this is 5.1pp 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 (17.6%) and lighting & signalling (17.1%) 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 position lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 254 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2007 Grand Espace fails 28.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 31.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.8 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.3% in 2021 to 30.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.6% | 498 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 484 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.9% | 336 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.5% | 239 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.8% | 164 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 163 |
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 | 254 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 242 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 187 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 183 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 179 |
| 6 | Joints | 125 |
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 | 33.3% | 941 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.9% | 873 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.8% | 871 |
| 4 | Other defects | 25.6% | 724 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 482 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 335 |
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 | 56 | 28.6% |
| 60-90k | 287 | 27.2% |
| 90-120k | 794 | 33.4% |
| 120-150k | 907 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 767 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,695 | 32.0% |
| Petrol | 131 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 790 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 694 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 553 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 447 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 342 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Grand Espace
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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 2007 Renault Grand Espaces pass their MOT?
68.2% of the 2,826 2007 Renault Grand Espace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Renault Grand Espace?
Suspension, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.1%).
Does the 2007 Grand Espace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.6% in the 30-60k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,826 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.