Renault Grand Modus MOT pass rate & common failures
The Renault Grand Modus appears in 22,478 MOT tests spanning model years 2005–2021, and 70.8% of them passed. That is 4.6 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.7%. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.2%) and lighting & signalling (16.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and track rod end — coil spring alone was recorded 2,655 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.0% in the 0-30k band and 36.7% in the 150k+ band, a 18.7-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.9% fail against 30.7% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 22,475 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Grand Modus model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 6,767 | 69.9% | 30.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 3,394 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 6,299 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 5,294 | 71.2% | 28.8% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 701 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 3,866 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 3,713 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 1,464 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.4% | 1,444 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.6% | 1,260 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 969 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.3% | 746 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 524 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 2,655 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,904 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 1,571 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,148 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,046 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 897 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 713 |
| 8 | Tread depth | 706 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 29.5% | 6,632 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.0% | 5,853 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.1% | 4,067 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.1% | 2,497 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 2,473 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.2% | 1,625 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 946 | 18.0% |
| 30-60k | 6,684 | 25.5% |
| 60-90k | 8,214 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 4,716 | 33.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,482 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 414 | 36.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 11,911 | 27.9% |
| Diesel | 10,564 | 30.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,037 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 4,789 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 4,609 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 4,203 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 3,840 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a Renault Grand Modus
- Suspension (17.2% 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 (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.5% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Renault Grand Modus?
70.8% of the 22,478 Renault Grand Modus MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.2% fail rate, across model years 2005–2021.
What does the Renault Grand Modus most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, then lighting & signalling (16.5%).
How much does mileage affect Grand Modus MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 36.7% for 150k+, a 18.7-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Grand Modus more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 27.9% of the time against 30.7% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,478 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.