2012 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
23,474 MOT tests on the 2012 Renault Kangoo are in this dataset, and 70.5% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (25.5% fail rate), the 2012 Kangoo comes out 4.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.3% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, rigid brake pipes and track rod end — joints alone was recorded 2,345 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.4% in the 0-30k band and 33.5% in the 150k+ band, a 17.2-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 12.7pp more often than petrol ones (31.3% vs 18.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 4,066 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.5% | 2,930 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 2,655 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 2,290 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.1% | 1,675 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.7% | 1,560 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,345 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,215 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 1,812 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,568 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 1,558 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 1,273 |
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 | 42.9% | 10,077 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.3% | 6,867 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 20.6% | 4,826 |
| 4 | Suspension | 15.3% | 3,589 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.1% | 2,598 |
| 6 | Visibility | 9.0% | 2,114 |
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 | 1,619 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,469 | 24.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,097 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 5,170 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,665 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 4,445 | 33.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 19,512 | 31.3% |
| Petrol | 2,911 | 18.7% |
| Electric | 1,051 | 25.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,092 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 4,954 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 4,796 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 4,503 | 30.7% |
| 2025 | 4,129 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Kangoo
On a 2012 Kangoo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.5% 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 (11.3% 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 2012 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 23,474 2012 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Renault Kangoo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by suspension (12.5%).
Does the 2012 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 33.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,474 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.