2011 Renault Scenic — MOT failures & pass rate
30,184 MOT tests on the 2011 Renault Scenic are in this dataset, and 72.2% of them passed. That is 3.6 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.5%) and suspension (14.3%) 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 2,659 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.3% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 27.7% of the time against 28.0% for petrol.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 4,369 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.3% | 4,313 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 2,171 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.6% | 1,976 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.8% | 1,433 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 1,277 |
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 | 2,659 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 2,217 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,702 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,568 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 1,293 |
| 6 | Joints | 1,097 |
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 | 31.7% | 9,578 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.2% | 8,825 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.1% | 7,587 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 3,967 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.1% | 3,344 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 1,484 |
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 | 496 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 5,165 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 11,753 | 27.2% |
| 90-120k | 8,826 | 30.2% |
| 120-150k | 3,015 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 881 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,111 | 27.7% |
| Petrol | 10,073 | 28.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,811 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 6,616 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 6,322 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 5,576 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 4,859 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Scenic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.3% 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 (7.2% 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 Scenics pass their MOT?
72.2% of the 30,184 2011 Renault Scenic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Renault Scenic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by suspension (14.3%).
Does the 2011 Scenic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,184 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.