2009 Renault Grand Scenic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,416 MOT tests, the 2009 Renault Grand Scenic recorded a 69.3% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), the 2009 Grand Scenic comes out 3.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.2%) 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 coil spring, position lamp and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 1,171 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.9% versus 39.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.6% fail against 31.2% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 10,416 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.4% in 2021 to 29.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 2,002 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.0% | 1,775 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 933 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.6% | 684 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.8% | 605 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 487 |
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 | 1,171 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 803 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 674 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 632 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 608 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 441 |
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 | 35.9% | 3,740 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.9% | 3,214 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.6% | 2,768 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 1,856 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.8% | 1,855 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 629 |
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 | 469 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,289 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,724 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 2,463 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,332 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,356 | 31.2% |
| Petrol | 3,060 | 29.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,803 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 2,483 | 30.9% |
| 2023 | 2,120 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 1,689 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 1,321 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Grand Scenic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.2% 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 (9.0% 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 2009 Renault Grand Scenics pass their MOT?
69.3% of the 10,416 2009 Renault Grand Scenic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Renault Grand Scenic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.2% of tests, followed by suspension (17.0%).
Does the 2009 Grand Scenic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 39.5% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,416 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.