2002 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Renault Kangoo passed 68.8% of its 7,664 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (30.0% fail rate), the 2002 Kangoo comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.8%) and suspension (13.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, washers and service brake performance — joints alone was recorded 473 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.3% versus 22.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 30.3% fail against 32.0% for diesel, a 1.7-point gap across 7,664 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 1,133 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 1,034 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.2% | 1,013 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.6% | 814 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.3% | 712 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.0% | 616 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 473 |
| 2 | Washers | 426 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 420 |
| 4 | Wipers | 408 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 369 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 349 |
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 | 34.0% | 2,605 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.6% | 2,421 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.8% | 2,211 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.2% | 1,852 |
| 5 | Other defects | 22.2% | 1,699 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 1,448 |
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 | 193 | 22.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,168 | 28.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,148 | 31.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,915 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,309 | 33.5% |
| 150k+ | 877 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,286 | 32.0% |
| Petrol | 3,378 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,287 | 31.8% |
| 2022 | 1,857 | 31.0% |
| 2023 | 1,486 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 1,138 | 31.0% |
| 2025 | 896 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Kangoo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.5% 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 (13.2% 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 2002 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 7,664 2002 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Renault Kangoo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by suspension (13.5%).
Does the 2002 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,664 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.