2017 Renault Kadjar — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 84,143 MOT tests, the 2017 Renault Kadjar recorded an 86.3% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), the 2017 Kadjar comes out 1.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.6%) and tyres (5.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp alone was recorded 3,629 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 22.3% in the 150k+ band, a 14.6-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 13.2% of the time against 14.1% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 5,573 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 4,727 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 3,056 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 2,836 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 2,266 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 788 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 3,629 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,063 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 2,943 |
| 4 | Wipers | 2,577 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,942 |
| 6 | Washers | 843 |
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 | 26.9% | 22,667 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.4% | 17,983 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.2% | 7,771 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.9% | 5,810 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 2,494 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 2,437 |
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 | 17,095 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 44,223 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 18,514 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,529 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 626 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 148 | 22.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 52,327 | 14.1% |
| Petrol | 31,816 | 13.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,111 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 16,585 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 16,817 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 17,012 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 17,618 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Kadjar
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (3.6% 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 2017 Renault Kadjars pass their MOT?
86.3% of the 84,143 2017 Renault Kadjar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Renault Kadjar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2017 Kadjar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 22.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 84,143 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.