2008 Renault Koleos — MOT failures & pass rate
1,944 MOT tests on the 2008 Renault Koleos are in this dataset, and 69.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.1% fail rate), the 2008 Koleos comes out 4.4pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (18.6%) and lighting & signalling (17.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, track rod end and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 232 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.3% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 47.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.6% | 362 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 340 |
| 3 | Steering | 9.6% | 187 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.3% | 162 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 104 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 97 |
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 | 232 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 214 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 190 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 118 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 114 |
| 6 | Suspension arm | 98 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 47.3% | 920 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.9% | 659 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.6% | 615 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 290 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.2% | 256 |
| 6 | Steering | 10.4% | 202 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 66 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 357 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 709 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 535 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 269 | 35.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 515 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 463 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 393 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 330 | 32.1% |
| 2025 | 243 | 32.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Koleos
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 18.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (18.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (9.6% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 2008 Renault Koleoss pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 1,944 2008 Renault Koleos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Renault Koleos?
Suspension, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.5%).
Does the 2008 Koleos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.2% in the 30-60k band to 35.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,944 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.