29,739 tests in 2025
Renault Scenic reliability and MOT pass rate
62.9% passed first time. The 37.1% fail rate is 14.5 points worse than the all-car average, on a median example 14 years old with 85,230 miles.
Pass rate
62.9%
22.6% of all cars failed; 37.1% of these did.
Fixed on the day
6.9%
Passed after a defect was put right during the visit.
Median at test
85,230 mi
14 years old.
Fail rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 10 | — |
| 6-9 years | 2,779 | 20.9% |
| 10-13 years | 10,479 | 35.6% |
| 14+ years | 16,465 | 40.8% |
What the Scenic 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.
- Suspension192 dangerous51.6%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment70 dangerous44.1%
- Brakes1,459 dangerous27.2%
- Steering124 dangerous19.3%
- Tyres2,065 dangerous17.8%
- Body, chassis, structure84 dangerous15%
- Visibility9 dangerous11.6%
- Noise, emissions and leaks8 dangerous8.2%
Is the Scenic getting worse?
The fail rate rose 0.9 points to 37.1% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 2 years. Ageing alone would predict about 3.7 points, so it is holding up better than the fleet average for its age.
| Year | Tests | Median age | Fail rate | All cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 48,847 | 12 | 36.2% | 22.5% | |
| 2023 | 43,178 | 13 | 36.6% | 22.8% | |
| 2024 | 32,642 | 13 | 37.7% | 23.2% | |
| 2025 | 29,729 | 14 | 37.1% | 22.6% |
Fail rate is first attempts at class 4 tests. Median age is the age of a typical Scenic 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 Scenic in 2025, counted by how many tests each one appeared on.
- 1Coil spring: fractured or broken2,782 tests
- 2Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play1,662 tests
- 3Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1,623 tests
- 4Position lamp: not working1,396 tests
- 5Stop lamp: not working1,194 tests
- 6Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1,191 tests
- 7Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn855 tests
- 8Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick838 tests
What wears out first
Advisories are the tester flagging wear that is still legal. A typical Scenic collects 3.11 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 1.6mm5,900 tests
- 2Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5,153 tests
- 3Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure3,325 tests
- 4Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2,884 tests
- 5Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2,712 tests
- 6Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)2,360 tests
- 7Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened1,902 tests
- 8Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1,862 tests
Questions
What is the Renault Scenic MOT pass rate?
62.9% of the 29,739 Renault Scenic first-attempt MOTs in 2025 passed. The fail rate of 37.1% compares with 22.6% across all cars. A further 6.9% passed after a defect was fixed during the test visit.
What does a Renault Scenic usually fail on?
The single most common failure is "Coil spring: fractured or broken", recorded on 2,782 failed tests, followed by "Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play" and "Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn". By section, suspension appears in 51.6% of failures, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment appears in 44.1% of failures, brakes appears in 27.2% of failures.
Does age change the odds?
Sharply. At 3 to 5 years old the fail rate was 10%; at 14+ years it was 40.8%. The median Renault Scenic tested in 2025 was 14 years old with 85,230 miles.
Is the Renault Scenic getting less reliable?
The fail rate rose 0.9 points to 37.1% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 2 years. Ageing alone would predict about 3.7 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 Scenic trim together. Year-on-year figures come from the same DVSA extracts for 2026 and earlier years. Full method on the pass rates hub.
DVSA has published 17 safety recalls naming the Renault Scenic: Renault Scenic recalls.
Other Renault models
Checking a particular Scenic?
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.