2005 Renault Grand Scenic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,924 MOT tests, the 2005 Renault Grand Scenic recorded a 66.1% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 30.0% of the time, so this is 3.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.2% of tests against 18.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 720 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 28.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 40.1% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 33.4% fail against 35.3% for diesel, a 1.9-point gap across 5,924 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 43.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.5% in 2021 to 32.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.2% | 1,376 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.1% | 1,070 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.6% | 746 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 503 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.0% | 413 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.9% | 410 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 720 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 652 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 573 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 538 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 480 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 361 |
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 | 43.5% | 2,575 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.0% | 1,955 |
| 3 | Other defects | 32.5% | 1,927 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 28.4% | 1,683 |
| 5 | Suspension | 27.7% | 1,638 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.8% | 936 |
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 | 365 | 28.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,808 | 32.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,854 | 34.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,125 | 34.9% |
| 120-150k | 523 | 34.6% |
| 150k+ | 192 | 40.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,612 | 33.4% |
| Diesel | 1,312 | 35.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,371 | 34.5% |
| 2022 | 1,557 | 34.4% |
| 2023 | 956 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 620 | 33.4% |
| 2025 | 420 | 32.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Grand Scenic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 23.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (23.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.1% 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 (12.6% 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 2005 Renault Grand Scenics pass their MOT?
66.1% of the 5,924 2005 Renault Grand Scenic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Renault Grand Scenic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.2% of tests, followed by suspension (18.1%).
Does the 2005 Grand Scenic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.0% in the 0-30k band to 40.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,924 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.