2010 Renault Modus — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Renault Modus passed 72.1% of its 10,834 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 25.0% of the time, so this is 2.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.2%) and lighting & signalling (15.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and track rod end — coil spring alone was recorded 1,227 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.4% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.7% fail against 29.9% for diesel, a 3.2-point gap across 10,834 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.2% | 1,750 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 1,655 |
| 3 | Steering | 5.9% | 640 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.7% | 615 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 565 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 458 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,227 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 884 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 705 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 489 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 448 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 414 |
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 | 30.2% | 3,272 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.1% | 2,723 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.7% | 1,811 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.5% | 1,142 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 1,069 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.4% | 691 |
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 | 749 | 19.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,645 | 24.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,776 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,953 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 572 | 35.3% |
| 150k+ | 130 | 35.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,806 | 26.7% |
| Diesel | 4,028 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,379 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 2,303 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 2,220 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 2,065 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 1,867 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Modus
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.2% 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 (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (5.9% 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 2010 Renault Moduss pass their MOT?
72.1% of the 10,834 2010 Renault Modus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Renault Modus?
Suspension, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.3%).
Does the 2010 Modus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 0-30k band to 35.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,834 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.