2012 Renault Twizy — MOT failures & pass rate
909 MOT tests on the 2012 Renault Twizy are in this dataset, and 83.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 5.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (9.6%) and lighting & signalling (8.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are switch, tread depth and brake pads — switch alone was recorded 36 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.6% | 87 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 73 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.9% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 24 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.4% | 22 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switch | 36 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 35 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 31 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 30 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 29 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 27 |
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 | 28.1% | 255 |
| 2 | Tyres | 12.2% | 111 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 44 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 18 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.9% | 17 |
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 | 865 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 39 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 181 | 12.7% |
| 2022 | 196 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 183 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 174 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 175 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Twizy
On a 2012 Twizy, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (9.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Twizys pass their MOT?
83.4% of the 909 2012 Renault Twizy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Renault Twizy?
Brakes, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.0%).
Does the 2012 Twizy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 909 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.