2008 Renault Grand Scenic — MOT failures & pass rate
10,527 MOT tests on the 2008 Renault Grand Scenic are in this dataset, and 66.8% of them passed. That is 5.3 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 27.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.9% of all tests — 5.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and coil spring — position lamp alone was recorded 2,277 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 Grand Scenic fails 39.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 36.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (34.2% vs 32.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.9% | 2,518 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.2% | 1,918 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.1% | 1,166 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.6% | 910 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 897 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.8% | 716 |
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 | 2,277 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,085 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 933 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 709 |
| 5 | Joints | 674 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 560 |
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 | 37.8% | 3,982 |
| 2 | Other defects | 34.2% | 3,601 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.3% | 3,401 |
| 4 | Suspension | 24.2% | 2,545 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.4% | 2,145 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.0% | 1,048 |
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 | 76 | 39.5% |
| 30-60k | 628 | 24.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,736 | 31.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,926 | 33.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,095 | 34.8% |
| 150k+ | 896 | 36.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,390 | 32.6% |
| Diesel | 4,137 | 34.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,368 | 33.5% |
| 2022 | 2,599 | 32.5% |
| 2023 | 1,988 | 32.7% |
| 2024 | 1,487 | 34.0% |
| 2025 | 1,085 | 34.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Grand Scenic
On a 2008 Grand Scenic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.2% 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.
- Brakes (11.1% 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 Scenics pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 10,527 2008 Renault Grand Scenic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Renault Grand Scenic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.9% of tests, followed by suspension (18.2%).
Does the 2008 Grand Scenic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 39.5% in the 0-30k band to 36.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,527 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.