2021 Renault Kadjar — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,440 MOT tests, the 2021 Renault Kadjar recorded a 92.3% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 8.1%, so the 2021 Kadjar sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and lighting & signalling (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 132 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.7% versus 5.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.6% of tests failed in 2023 against 8.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 143 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 138 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 93 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 53 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 16 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.1% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 132 |
| 2 | Wipers | 105 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 48 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 46 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 39 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 15 |
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 | 20.1% | 691 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 461 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.4% | 221 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 103 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 61 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.3% | 46 |
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 | 2,218 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,126 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 78 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,059 | 7.2% |
| Diesel | 381 | 11.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 122 | 6.6% |
| 2024 | 1,648 | 7.0% |
| 2025 | 1,669 | 8.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Kadjar
On a 2021 Kadjar, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.7% 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 2021 Renault Kadjars pass their MOT?
92.3% of the 3,440 2021 Renault Kadjar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Renault Kadjar?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.0%).
Does the 2021 Kadjar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,440 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.