2012 Renault Grand Scenic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,333 MOT tests, the 2012 Renault Grand Scenic recorded a 70.6% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (22.5% fail rate), the 2012 Grand Scenic comes out 6.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.8%) and suspension (14.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, track rod end and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 1,065 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Grand Scenic fails 31.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 30.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.1 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 29.3% of the time against 29.5% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 31.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 1,906 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.4% | 1,627 |
| 3 | Steering | 8.0% | 904 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.1% | 804 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.1% | 693 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 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 | 1,065 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 1,031 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 863 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 474 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 470 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 437 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 31.6% | 3,582 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.6% | 3,580 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.0% | 2,610 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.3% | 1,619 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 1,526 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.7% | 647 |
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 | 61 | 31.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,083 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,985 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,887 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,675 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 615 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,694 | 29.3% |
| Petrol | 1,639 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,496 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 2,465 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 2,333 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 2,137 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 1,902 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Grand Scenic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.4% 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.
- Steering (8.0% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 2012 Renault Grand Scenics pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 11,333 2012 Renault Grand Scenic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Renault Grand Scenic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.4%).
Does the 2012 Grand Scenic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,333 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.