1,253 tests in 2025
Renault Grand Espace reliability and MOT pass rate
60.3% passed first time. The 39.7% fail rate is 17.1 points worse than the all-car average, on a median example 17 years old with 125,359 miles.
Pass rate
60.3%
22.6% of all cars failed; 39.7% of these did.
Fixed on the day
5.6%
Passed after a defect was put right during the visit.
Median at test
125,359 mi
17 years old.
Fail rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 0 | — |
| 6-9 years | 0 | — |
| 10-13 years | 62 | — |
| 14+ years | 1,191 | 40% |
What the Grand Espace fails on
Share of failed tests with at least one fail item in each DVSA inspection section. A test can fail in several sections at once.
- Suspension11 dangerous48.8%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment6 dangerous39.6%
- Brakes80 dangerous35.7%
- Steering8 dangerous26.3%
- Tyres91 dangerous18.3%
- Body, chassis, structure2 dangerous17.5%
- Visibility1 dangerous10.6%
- Noise, emissions and leaks1 dangerous9%
Is the Grand Espace getting worse?
The fail rate fell 3.4 points to 39.7% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 3 years. Ageing alone would predict about 3.3 points, so it is holding up better than the fleet average for its age.
| Year | Tests | Median age | Fail rate | All cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,229 | 14 | 43.1% | 22.5% | |
| 2023 | 1,926 | 15 | 40.2% | 22.8% | |
| 2024 | 1,456 | 16 | 40.5% | 23.2% | |
| 2025 | 1,253 | 17 | 39.7% | 22.6% |
Fail rate is first attempts at class 4 tests. Median age is the age of a typical Grand Espace at its test that year, and it is the number to watch: across the whole fleet each extra year of age adds roughly 1.9 points to the fail rate, so a model whose age and fail rate rise together is simply getting older.
The exact defects that fail it
Every failure item DVSA recorded against a Grand Espace in 2025, counted by how many tests each one appeared on.
- 1Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn98 tests
- 2Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play95 tests
- 3Coil spring: fractured or broken81 tests
- 4Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt68 tests
- 5Position lamp: not working53 tests
- 6Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault48 tests
- 7Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick42 tests
- 8Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements36 tests
What wears out first
Advisories are the tester flagging wear that is still legal. A typical Grand Espace collects 3.41 of them per test, and these are the ones that come up most. Treat it as the running-repairs list for the next year or two.
- 1Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm296 tests
- 2Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened215 tests
- 3Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened163 tests
- 4Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine162 tests
- 5Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)140 tests
- 6Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick121 tests
- 7Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded82 tests
- 8Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play82 tests
Questions
What is the Renault Grand Espace MOT pass rate?
60.3% of the 1,253 Renault Grand Espace first-attempt MOTs in 2025 passed. The fail rate of 39.7% compares with 22.6% across all cars. A further 5.6% passed after a defect was fixed during the test visit.
What does a Renault Grand Espace usually fail on?
The single most common failure is "Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn", recorded on 98 failed tests, followed by "Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play" and "Coil spring: fractured or broken". By section, suspension appears in 48.8% of failures, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment appears in 39.6% of failures, brakes appears in 35.7% of failures.
Does age change the odds?
Sharply. At 3 to 5 years old the fail rate was n/a%; at 14+ years it was 40%. The median Renault Grand Espace tested in 2025 was 17 years old with 125,359 miles.
Is the Renault Grand Espace getting less reliable?
The fail rate fell 3.4 points to 39.7% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 3 years. Ageing alone would predict about 3.3 points, so it is holding up better than the fleet average for its age.
First-attempt class 4 tests, 2025, from DVSA’s anonymised MOT data (OGL v3, retrieved 2026-09-12). DVSA records newer cars trim by trim; this page adds every Grand Espace trim together. Year-on-year figures come from the same DVSA extracts for 2026 and earlier years. Full method on the pass rates hub.
Other Renault models
- Clio 36.8%
- Captur 19.9%
- Koleos 20.6%
- Grand Modus 42%
- Wind 37%
- G 41.5%
- Espace 39.6%
- Megane Electric 16%
Checking a particular Grand Espace?
The odds above are the model. The car in front of you has its own record: every test, every advisory, the mileage at each one.
Due a test? Find an approved MOT station near you.