2009 Renault Grand Espace — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Renault Grand Espace passed 69.0% of its 1,089 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (25.2% fail rate), the 2009 Grand Espace comes out 5.8pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.3%) and lighting & signalling (16.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, coil spring and ball joint — track rod end alone was recorded 99 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 Grand Espace fails 28.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 31.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.3% | 177 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 175 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.7% | 117 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.3% | 90 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 71 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.8% | 63 |
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 | 99 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 76 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 76 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 65 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 47 |
| 6 | Joints | 47 |
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 | 33.0% | 359 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.0% | 338 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.6% | 301 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.2% | 231 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 165 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 93 |
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 | 35 | 28.6% |
| 60-90k | 127 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 332 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 336 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 258 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 280 | 33.2% |
| 2022 | 242 | 28.1% |
| 2023 | 228 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 176 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 163 | 33.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Grand Espace
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.3% 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 (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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 2009 Renault Grand Espaces pass their MOT?
69.0% of the 1,089 2009 Renault Grand Espace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Renault Grand Espace?
Suspension, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.1%).
Does the 2009 Grand Espace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.6% in the 30-60k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,089 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.