2012 Renault Twingo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,600 MOT tests, the 2012 Renault Twingo recorded a 73.2% pass rate. That is 5.9 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.9% of tests against 10.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, track rod end and ball joint — coil spring alone was recorded 731 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.6% in the 0-30k band and 38.1% in the 120-150k band, a 23.5-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.9% | 1,285 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 935 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 644 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.4% | 468 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 388 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 382 |
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 | 731 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 513 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 438 |
| 4 | Horn | 347 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 322 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 288 |
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 | 28.8% | 2,476 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.5% | 2,366 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.8% | 2,129 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 968 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.1% | 695 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 605 |
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 | 945 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,422 | 25.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,065 | 29.7% |
| 90-120k | 994 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 147 | 38.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,756 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 1,731 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 1,750 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 1,716 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 1,647 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Twingo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.9% 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 (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.5% 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 2012 Renault Twingos pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 8,600 2012 Renault Twingo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Renault Twingo?
Suspension, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.9%).
Does the 2012 Twingo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 38.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,600 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.