2012 Renault Modus — MOT failures & pass rate
906 MOT tests on the 2012 Renault Modus are in this dataset, and 71.1% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), the 2012 Modus comes out 6.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 19.2% of tests against 14.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and individual direction indicators — coil spring alone was recorded 157 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.8% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.2% | 174 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 132 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.1% | 55 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.6% | 42 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.5% | 41 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 31 |
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 | 157 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 66 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 57 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 48 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 41 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 40 |
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 | 25.6% | 232 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.4% | 230 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.5% | 131 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 88 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.5% | 77 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 49 |
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 | 158 | 17.7% |
| 30-60k | 388 | 27.8% |
| 60-90k | 266 | 35.0% |
| 90-120k | 71 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 714 | 28.8% |
| Diesel | 192 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 182 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 182 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 184 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 181 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 177 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Modus
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.2% 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 (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.1% 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 2012 Renault Moduss pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 906 2012 Renault Modus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Renault Modus?
Suspension, recorded in 19.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.6%).
Does the 2012 Modus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.7% in the 0-30k band to 33.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 906 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.