2012 Renault Wind — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Renault Wind passed 75.5% of its 253 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, steering and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.6% of tests against 9.1% 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 30 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.1% once past 60-90k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.6% | 37 |
| 2 | Steering | 9.1% | 23 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.5% | 19 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 17 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.2% | 8 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.0% | 5 |
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 | 30 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 26 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 13 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 12 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 6 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 6 |
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 | 30.8% | 78 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.9% | 58 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 33 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 23 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.1% | 13 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 11 |
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 | 48 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 140 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 59 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 49 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 54 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 51 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 44 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Wind
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.6% 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.
- Steering (9.1% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- 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 Winds pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 253 2012 Renault Wind MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Renault Wind?
Suspension, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by steering (9.1%).
Does the 2012 Wind get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 253 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.