2012 Renault Grand Modus — MOT failures & pass rate
701 MOT tests on the 2012 Renault Grand Modus are in this dataset, and 69.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 9.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 20.4% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and track rod end — coil spring alone was recorded 112 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 27.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.3% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.4% | 143 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 110 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 47 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.1% | 43 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 40 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 21 |
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 | 112 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 60 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 46 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 41 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 35 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 27 |
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 | 27.7% | 194 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.0% | 168 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.3% | 128 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 85 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.0% | 77 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 5.3% | 37 |
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 | 274 | 27.4% |
| 60-90k | 223 | 33.6% |
| 90-120k | 117 | 36.8% |
| 120-150k | 39 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 411 | 31.6% |
| Petrol | 290 | 29.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 143 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 138 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | 141 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 145 | 33.1% |
| 2025 | 134 | 32.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Grand Modus
On a 2012 Grand Modus, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (20.4% 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 (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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 2012 Renault Grand Moduss pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 701 2012 Renault Grand Modus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Renault Grand Modus?
Suspension, recorded in 20.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.7%).
Does the 2012 Grand Modus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.4% in the 30-60k band to 33.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 701 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.