2018 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
15,478 MOT tests on the 2018 Renault Kangoo are in this dataset, and 80.1% of them passed. That is 3.8 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 16.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.6% of all tests — 9.4 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, wipers and registration plate lamp(s) — stop lamp alone was recorded 1,399 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.3% in the 0-30k band and 24.7% in the 150k+ band, a 11.4-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.3pp more often than electric ones (20.5% vs 15.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 2,573 |
| 2 | Visibility | 7.2% | 1,112 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.4% | 985 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.1% | 786 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 594 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.0% | 461 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 1,399 |
| 2 | Wipers | 880 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 853 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 704 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 699 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 685 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.5% | 3,942 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 3,002 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 1,648 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.9% | 1,074 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.3% | 822 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.2% | 495 |
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 | 3,155 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,178 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 3,840 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,887 | 23.3% |
| 120-150k | 852 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 566 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,843 | 20.5% |
| Electric | 1,630 | 15.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,069 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 3,193 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 3,123 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 3,068 | 21.3% |
| 2025 | 3,025 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Kangoo
On a 2018 Kangoo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (7.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (6.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2018 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
80.1% of the 15,478 2018 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Renault Kangoo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by visibility (7.2%).
Does the 2018 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,478 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.