2008 Renault Grand Modus — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Renault Grand Modus passed 69.9% of its 6,767 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.6%) and suspension (17.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and track rod end — position lamp alone was recorded 686 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.2% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.3% fail against 32.0% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 6,767 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 1,260 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.0% | 1,147 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 486 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.3% | 425 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 419 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 318 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 686 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 674 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 480 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 386 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 368 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 325 |
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 | 29.8% | 2,020 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.4% | 1,855 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.4% | 1,311 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 859 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.7% | 790 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 717 |
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 | 177 | 20.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,612 | 25.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,725 | 30.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,642 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 510 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 94 | 36.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,794 | 29.3% |
| Diesel | 1,973 | 32.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,580 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 1,478 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 1,376 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 1,218 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 1,115 | 32.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Grand Modus
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.0% 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.
- Brakes (7.2% 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 2008 Renault Grand Moduss pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 6,767 2008 Renault Grand Modus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Renault Grand Modus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by suspension (17.0%).
Does the 2008 Grand Modus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 0-30k band to 36.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,767 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.