2006 Renault Scenic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Renault Scenic passed 68.5% of its 20,941 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (29.6% fail rate), the 2006 Scenic comes out 1.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.2% of tests against 15.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and coil spring — position lamp alone was recorded 2,131 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 37.0% versus 26.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 31.1% fail against 32.9% for diesel, a 1.7-point gap across 20,941 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 43.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.2% | 4,443 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.4% | 3,223 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.7% | 2,653 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.6% | 1,601 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.1% | 1,275 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 1,226 |
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 | 2,131 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 1,773 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,493 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,218 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,156 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 1,137 |
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 | 43.6% | 9,135 |
| 2 | Other defects | 33.9% | 7,097 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.5% | 6,802 |
| 4 | Suspension | 25.4% | 5,310 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.9% | 4,372 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.8% | 3,309 |
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 | 282 | 26.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,489 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 7,081 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 6,855 | 33.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,047 | 34.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,047 | 37.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 16,261 | 31.1% |
| Diesel | 4,680 | 32.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,157 | 32.0% |
| 2022 | 5,225 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 3,879 | 31.4% |
| 2024 | 2,774 | 31.5% |
| 2025 | 1,906 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Scenic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.4% 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 (12.7% 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 2006 Renault Scenics pass their MOT?
68.5% of the 20,941 2006 Renault Scenic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Renault Scenic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.2% of tests, followed by suspension (15.4%).
Does the 2006 Scenic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 0-30k band to 37.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,941 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.