2008 Renault Twingo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,491 MOT tests, the 2008 Renault Twingo recorded a 69.4% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), the 2008 Twingo comes out 3.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 17.0% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and track rod end — coil spring alone was recorded 1,602 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.0% | 3,479 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 2,604 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.3% | 1,906 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.6% | 1,351 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.4% | 1,320 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.5% | 1,132 |
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 | 1,602 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,424 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 1,396 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,146 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 956 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 908 |
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 | 37.6% | 7,713 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.8% | 6,111 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.3% | 5,996 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.1% | 4,316 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 3,594 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.3% | 1,903 |
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 | 588 | 21.4% |
| 30-60k | 3,731 | 25.5% |
| 60-90k | 8,168 | 30.6% |
| 90-120k | 6,077 | 33.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,609 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 282 | 36.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,936 | 30.3% |
| 2022 | 4,623 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 4,194 | 30.5% |
| 2024 | 3,666 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 3,072 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Twingo
On a 2008 Twingo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.3% 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 2008 Renault Twingos pass their MOT?
69.4% of the 20,491 2008 Renault Twingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Renault Twingo?
Suspension, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.7%).
Does the 2008 Twingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.4% in the 0-30k band to 36.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,491 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.