2010 Renault Scenic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Renault Scenic passed 71.1% of its 45,518 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 3.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.7%) and suspension (15.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, track rod end and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 4,512 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.8% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.7pp more often than petrol ones (29.8% vs 26.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 33.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 7,165 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.2% | 6,898 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.7% | 3,494 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.1% | 3,248 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 2,368 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 1,861 |
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 | 4,512 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 3,582 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 2,852 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 2,070 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 1,879 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,656 |
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 | 33.9% | 15,418 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.7% | 13,985 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.5% | 11,142 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 7,193 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.9% | 5,403 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.8% | 2,645 |
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 | 438 | 22.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,937 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 15,254 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 15,566 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 6,875 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,347 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 34,875 | 29.8% |
| Petrol | 10,643 | 26.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,654 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 10,127 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 9,416 | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 8,291 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 7,030 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Scenic
On a 2010 Scenic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.2% 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.
- Brakes (7.7% 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 2010 Renault Scenics pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 45,518 2010 Renault Scenic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Renault Scenic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by suspension (15.2%).
Does the 2010 Scenic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.6% in the 0-30k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 45,518 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.