2011 Renault Modus — MOT failures & pass rate
9,096 MOT tests on the 2011 Renault Modus are in this dataset, and 70.8% of them passed. That is 5.3 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 23.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 19.0% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and track rod end — coil spring alone was recorded 1,335 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.0% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.7pp more often than petrol ones (32.1% vs 28.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.0% | 1,731 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 1,438 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 603 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 495 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.3% | 391 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 374 |
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 | 1,335 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 772 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 420 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 409 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 360 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 341 |
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 | 28.2% | 2,561 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.8% | 2,434 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.8% | 1,616 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 924 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.8% | 890 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 519 |
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 | 1,168 | 20.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,864 | 27.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,659 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,014 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 288 | 38.5% |
| 150k+ | 86 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,289 | 28.5% |
| Diesel | 1,807 | 32.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,879 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 1,885 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 1,866 | 29.9% |
| 2024 | 1,764 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 1,702 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Modus
On a 2011 Modus, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (19.0% 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 (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.6% 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 2011 Renault Moduss pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 9,096 2011 Renault Modus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Renault Modus?
Suspension, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.8%).
Does the 2011 Modus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.2% in the 0-30k band to 36.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,096 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.