2011 Renault Grand Espace — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Renault Grand Espace passed 71.9% of its 1,596 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (23.1% fail rate), the 2011 Grand Espace comes out 5.0pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.6% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, coil spring and ball joint — track rod end alone was recorded 157 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.2% versus 19.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.6% | 217 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 152 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 145 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.1% | 145 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 86 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 74 |
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 | 157 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 108 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 80 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 61 |
| 5 | Joints | 60 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 54 |
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 | 27.4% | 438 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.6% | 424 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.8% | 379 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.9% | 270 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 151 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.3% | 117 |
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 | 107 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 417 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 511 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 329 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 221 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 338 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 335 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 325 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 303 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 295 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Grand Espace
On a 2011 Grand Espace, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.6% 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 (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.1% 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 2011 Renault Grand Espaces pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 1,596 2011 Renault Grand Espace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Renault Grand Espace?
Suspension, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.5%).
Does the 2011 Grand Espace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.6% in the 30-60k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,596 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.