2004 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,393 MOT tests, the 2004 Renault Kangoo recorded a 68.4% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 29.9% of the time, so this is 1.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.5%) and suspension (14.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, washers and steering rack — position lamp alone was recorded 916 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.0% versus 26.7%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 30.6% fail against 32.4% for diesel, a 1.8-point gap across 16,393 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.6% 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 | 14.5% | 2,378 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 2,370 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 1,927 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.6% | 1,567 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.8% | 1,435 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 1,291 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 916 |
| 2 | Washers | 888 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 871 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 820 |
| 5 | Wipers | 800 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 791 |
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 | 31.6% | 5,179 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.0% | 4,755 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.1% | 4,612 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.5% | 3,029 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.6% | 2,886 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 2,761 |
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 | 544 | 26.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,337 | 29.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,723 | 30.2% |
| 90-120k | 4,320 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 3,219 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,165 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,848 | 32.4% |
| Petrol | 6,545 | 30.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,491 | 32.1% |
| 2022 | 3,858 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 3,285 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 2,660 | 31.5% |
| 2025 | 2,099 | 31.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Kangoo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% 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 (11.8% 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 2004 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 16,393 2004 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Renault Kangoo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2004 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.7% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,393 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.