2005 Renault Ll29 100 — MOT failures & pass rate
567 MOT tests on the 2005 Renault Ll29 100 are in this dataset, and 70.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 2.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.8% of all tests — 5.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and headlamp aim — ball joint alone was recorded 63 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Ll29 100 fails 29.6% of the time in the 90-120k band and 29.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 30.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 36.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.8% | 135 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.3% | 104 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.8% | 84 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.5% | 48 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.4% | 42 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 38 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 63 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 48 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 47 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 44 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 39 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 36 |
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 | 38.6% | 219 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.3% | 189 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 29.4% | 167 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.5% | 139 |
| 5 | Tyres | 21.2% | 120 |
| 6 | Steering | 14.8% | 84 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 81 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 162 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 301 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 136 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 126 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 120 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 91 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 94 | 36.2% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Ll29 100
On a 2005 Ll29 100, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.3% 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 (14.8% 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 2005 Renault Ll29 100s pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 567 2005 Renault Ll29 100 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Renault Ll29 100?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.8% of tests, followed by suspension (18.3%).
Does the 2005 Ll29 100 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.6% in the 90-120k band to 29.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 567 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.