2018 Renault Kadjar — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 63,283 MOT tests, the 2018 Renault Kadjar recorded an 87.2% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), the 2018 Kadjar comes out 2.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.6%) and tyres (5.7%) 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 wipers — headlamp alone was recorded 2,745 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.9% once past 120-150k — 2.9× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 12.7% of the time against 13.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.3% 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% | 4,187 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.7% | 3,602 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.4% | 2,158 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 1,924 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 1,078 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 621 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 2,745 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,225 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,932 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,866 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,699 |
| 6 | Washers | 691 |
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 | 25.8% | 16,301 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 12,049 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.0% | 5,720 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 2,906 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,878 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 1,263 |
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 | 21,823 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 31,513 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 8,592 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,184 | 21.0% |
| 120-150k | 140 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 40,324 | 12.7% |
| Diesel | 22,959 | 13.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,552 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 12,441 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 12,639 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 12,654 | 14.9% |
| 2025 | 12,997 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Kadjar
On a 2018 Kadjar, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (5.7% 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.
- Visibility (3.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2018 Renault Kadjars pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 63,283 2018 Renault Kadjar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Renault Kadjar?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by tyres (5.7%).
Does the 2018 Kadjar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,283 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.