2011 Renault Twingo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Renault Twingo passed 71.2% of its 17,270 recorded MOT tests. Against city cars of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), the 2011 Twingo comes out 6.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.1%) and lighting & signalling (14.7%) 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 individual direction indicators — coil spring alone was recorded 1,819 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.6% in the 0-30k band and 31.2% in the 150k+ band, a 14.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.1% | 2,783 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 2,534 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 1,396 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.8% | 1,006 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 922 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 838 |
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 | 1,819 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 1,097 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 817 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 797 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 781 |
| 6 | Horn | 719 |
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 | 28.9% | 4,995 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.8% | 4,624 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.4% | 4,564 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 3,192 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.3% | 1,428 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 1,189 |
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 | 1,259 | 16.6% |
| 30-60k | 5,759 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 6,863 | 31.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,590 | 33.5% |
| 120-150k | 635 | 33.4% |
| 150k+ | 138 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 17,237 | 28.8% |
| Diesel | 33 | 24.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,610 | 27.2% |
| 2022 | 3,574 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 3,514 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 3,393 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 3,179 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Twingo
On a 2011 Twingo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.1% 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 (14.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.1% 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 Twingos pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 17,270 2011 Renault Twingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Renault Twingo?
Suspension, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.7%).
Does the 2011 Twingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.6% in the 0-30k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,270 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.