2009 Renault Scenic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Renault Scenic passed 70.9% of its 14,997 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 27.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.8%) and suspension (15.0%) 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 1,438 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.6% in the 0-30k band and 33.2% in the 150k+ band, a 10.6-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (30.7% vs 27.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 2,667 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 2,249 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 1,273 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.9% | 881 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.3% | 792 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 674 |
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 | 1,438 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,250 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 801 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 800 |
| 5 | Joints | 628 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 625 |
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 | 34.8% | 5,219 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.8% | 4,475 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.6% | 3,697 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.3% | 2,738 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 2,515 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.5% | 825 |
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 | 199 | 22.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,746 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 4,842 | 27.2% |
| 90-120k | 5,106 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,201 | 31.7% |
| 150k+ | 834 | 33.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,819 | 27.6% |
| Diesel | 7,178 | 30.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,743 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 3,447 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 3,059 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 2,597 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 2,151 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Scenic
On a 2009 Scenic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.0% 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.
- Brakes (8.5% 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 2009 Renault Scenics pass their MOT?
70.9% of the 14,997 2009 Renault Scenic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Renault Scenic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (15.0%).
Does the 2009 Scenic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.6% in the 0-30k band to 33.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,997 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.