2005 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Renault Kangoo passed 68.8% of its 18,906 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.6%) and suspension (14.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, steering rack and track rod end — position lamp alone was recorded 1,014 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 25.3% in the 0-30k band and 32.8% in the 150k+ band, a 7.4-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.3pp more often than petrol ones (32.5% vs 29.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 2,757 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 2,678 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 2,154 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.8% | 1,856 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.3% | 1,578 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 1,470 |
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 | 1,014 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 1,010 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 976 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 927 |
| 5 | Wipers | 922 |
| 6 | Washers | 913 |
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 | 32.7% | 6,178 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.2% | 5,525 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.3% | 4,963 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.7% | 3,147 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 3,091 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.4% | 2,721 |
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 | 687 | 25.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,859 | 28.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,498 | 30.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,571 | 31.9% |
| 120-150k | 3,684 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,497 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,800 | 32.5% |
| Petrol | 7,106 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,995 | 32.2% |
| 2022 | 4,312 | 30.7% |
| 2023 | 3,722 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 3,246 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 2,631 | 31.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Kangoo
On a 2005 Kangoo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.2% 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 (11.4% 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 2005 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 18,906 2005 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Renault Kangoo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by suspension (14.2%).
Does the 2005 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,906 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.