2021 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
4,544 MOT tests on the 2021 Renault Kangoo are in this dataset, and 84.0% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 13.9% of the time, so this is 2.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.7% of all tests — 6.6 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, registration plate lamp(s) and headlamp aim — stop lamp alone was recorded 367 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 0-30k band and 19.4% in the 150k+ band, a 8.1-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.9pp more often than electric ones (19.2% vs 12.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 576 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.0% | 275 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.8% | 217 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 140 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 94 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.6% | 73 |
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 | 367 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 165 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 150 |
| 4 | Wipers | 146 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 142 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 134 |
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 | 23.9% | 1,084 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.8% | 538 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 396 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.1% | 322 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.1% | 234 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.4% | 108 |
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 | 2,083 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,380 | 18.3% |
| 60-90k | 624 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 308 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 113 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,437 | 19.2% |
| Electric | 2,104 | 12.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 100 | 8.0% |
| 2024 | 2,178 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 2,261 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Kangoo
On a 2021 Kangoo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.0% 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.
- Visibility (4.8% 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.
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 2021 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 4,544 2021 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Renault Kangoo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by tyres (6.0%).
Does the 2021 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,544 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.