2006 Renault Grand Scenic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Renault Grand Scenic passed 67.5% of its 7,451 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 29.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 22.6% of all tests — 5.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 863 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.2% in the 0-30k band and 35.5% in the 150k+ band, a 17.3-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 32.3% of the time against 32.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.8% in 2021 to 29.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.6% | 1,687 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.8% | 1,249 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 906 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 593 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.9% | 586 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.4% | 480 |
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 | 863 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 669 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 661 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 475 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 438 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 423 |
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 | 40.8% | 3,038 |
| 2 | Other defects | 33.7% | 2,510 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.9% | 2,373 |
| 4 | Suspension | 25.9% | 1,927 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 22.4% | 1,672 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.1% | 902 |
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 | 66 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 506 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,943 | 30.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,531 | 33.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,553 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 786 | 35.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,815 | 32.3% |
| Diesel | 2,636 | 32.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,716 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 1,934 | 33.9% |
| 2023 | 1,313 | 31.5% |
| 2024 | 897 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 591 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Grand Scenic
On a 2006 Grand Scenic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (22.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.8% 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 (12.2% 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 2006 Renault Grand Scenics pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 7,451 2006 Renault Grand Scenic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Renault Grand Scenic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.6% of tests, followed by suspension (16.8%).
Does the 2006 Grand Scenic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 0-30k band to 35.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,451 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.