2011 Renault Grand Scenic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Renault Grand Scenic passed 70.0% of its 29,564 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 24.1% of the time, so this is 6.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.3%) and suspension (16.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, stop lamp and track rod end — coil spring alone was recorded 3,037 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2011 Grand Scenic fails 34.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 31.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 29.9% of the time against 30.5% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 33.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 5,409 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.1% | 4,744 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 2,230 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.3% | 2,164 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 1,674 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 1,415 |
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 | 3,037 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 2,519 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 2,439 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,742 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 1,218 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,154 |
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 | 33.3% | 9,858 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.4% | 9,296 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.1% | 7,426 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.2% | 4,214 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 4,073 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.6% | 1,643 |
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 | 155 | 34.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,163 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 9,633 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 11,091 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 4,609 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,829 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 23,866 | 29.9% |
| Petrol | 5,698 | 30.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,122 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 6,708 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 6,180 | 30.6% |
| 2024 | 5,268 | 30.7% |
| 2025 | 4,286 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Grand Scenic
On a 2011 Grand Scenic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.1% 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 (7.5% 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 2011 Renault Grand Scenics pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 29,564 2011 Renault Grand Scenic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Renault Grand Scenic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.3% of tests, followed by suspension (16.1%).
Does the 2011 Grand Scenic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,564 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.