2011 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
39,143 MOT tests on the 2011 Renault Kangoo are in this dataset, and 68.7% of them passed. That is 4.7 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.2% of tests against 13.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, track rod end and rigid brake pipes — joints alone was recorded 4,477 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.4% in the 0-30k band and 33.8% in the 150k+ band, a 18.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.7% fail against 32.8% for diesel, a 10.0-point gap across 39,038 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 43.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 30.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 7,509 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 5,346 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.1% | 4,751 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.9% | 4,273 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.3% | 3,237 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 2,749 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 4,477 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 3,547 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,395 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 2,792 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 2,641 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,349 |
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 | 43.2% | 16,923 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.8% | 11,655 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 23.0% | 8,998 |
| 4 | Suspension | 18.1% | 7,067 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.6% | 4,531 |
| 6 | Visibility | 9.5% | 3,711 |
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 | 1,534 | 15.4% |
| 30-60k | 4,677 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 6,893 | 30.0% |
| 90-120k | 9,334 | 33.5% |
| 120-150k | 8,696 | 33.8% |
| 150k+ | 7,991 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 33,318 | 32.8% |
| Petrol | 5,720 | 22.7% |
| Electric | 105 | 26.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,680 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 8,406 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 8,033 | 31.8% |
| 2024 | 7,332 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 6,692 | 31.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Kangoo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (12.1% 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 2011 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 39,143 2011 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Renault Kangoo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.2% of tests, followed by suspension (13.7%).
Does the 2011 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 0-30k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,143 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.