Renault Scenic Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Renault Scenic passes its MOT first time on 54.4% of tests, 8.4 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (62.8%). That puts it ahead of 16% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2002 Scenic does best (beats 44% of cars) and the 2004 worst (beats 3%).

Of its engines, the 1.9 Diesel does best (beats 24%) and the 1.5 Diesel worst (beats 14%).

Better than average on emissions & leaks.

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.4×as often as a typical car

Suspension1.3×as often as a typical car

Track rod ends3.0×as often as a typical car

Sidelights1.8×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Renault ScenicTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 36%

Beats 33%

Beats 43%

Beats 44%

Beats 37%

Beats 3%

Beats 4%

Beats 19%

Beats 12%

Beats 13%

Beats 26%

Beats 23%

Beats 17%

Beats 14%

Beats 6%

Beats 4%

Beats 15%

Beats 21%

Beats 16%

Beats 17%

Beats 8%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	2004–2018	211,914	59.5%	Beats 14%	E
1.6 Petrol	1999–2013	201,392	49.5%	Beats 17%	E
1.9 Diesel	2001–2011	32,025	49.1%	Beats 24%	D
1.4 Petrol	2000–2010	28,649	47.6%	Beats 16%	E
2.0 Petrol	2000–2010	19,444	53.0%	Beats 26%	D
1.6 Diesel	2011–2017	15,249	70.3%	Beats 23%	D
2.0 Diesel	2007–2010	3,716	54.3%	Beats 22%	D
1.2 Petrol	2017–2017	1,390	81.1%	Beats 16%	E
1.3 Petrol	2019–2019	1,207	83.1%	Beats 8%	E
1.8 Petrol	2002–2002	1,150	47.7%	Beats 38%	D

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Lights: 23.0% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 16.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

23.0% vs 16.7%

Suspension

17.0% vs 13.2%

Brakes

12.1% vs 9.7%

Tyres

7.8% vs 7.1%

Steering

7.6% vs 2.7%

Visibility

7.6% vs 6.2%

Body & structure

7.3% vs 5.2%

Emissions & leaks

3.6% vs 4.6%

Seat belts & airbags

1.4% vs 1.6%

Wheels

0.3% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Track rod ends 3.0× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
Sidelights 1.8× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Coil springs 2.0× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
Suspension ball joints 2.6× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
Brake pads 1.5× typical
Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
Headlight bulbs & units
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Renault ScenicTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Sidelights	7.4%	4.0%	1.8×
Coil springs	6.6%	3.3%	2.0×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	5.2%	1.9%	2.7×
Track rod ends	5.2%	1.7%	3.0×
Suspension ball joints	4.8%	1.8%	2.6×
Brake lights	4.5%	3.3%	1.4×
Headlight bulbs & units	4.0%	3.0%	1.4×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.8%	3.6%	1.0×
Headlight aim	3.7%	4.2%	0.9×
Tyre tread depth	3.5%	3.0%	1.2×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	74.8
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	65.8
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	52.9
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play	52.9
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	51.9
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	40.1
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	37.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	34.8

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2019 Renault Scenic1 engine83.1% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	1,207	83.1%	Beats 8%	E

2018 Renault Scenic1 engine80.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	1,738	80.3%	Beats 17%	E

2017 Renault Scenic3 engines78.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	6,318	78.5%	Beats 17%	E
1.6 Diesel	2,844	76.8%	Beats 14%	E
1.2 Petrol	1,390	81.1%	Beats 16%	E

2016 Renault Scenic2 engines77.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	7,479	77.6%	Beats 22%	D
1.6 Diesel	3,082	77.0%	Beats 20%	D

2015 Renault Scenic2 engines73.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	24,566	73.4%	Beats 14%	E
1.6 Diesel	1,379	76.5%	Beats 39%	D

2014 Renault Scenic2 engines63.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	25,873	63.3%	Beats 3%	E
1.6 Diesel	1,446	68.8%	Beats 21%	D

2013 Renault Scenic3 engines61.2% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	21,999	60.5%	Beats 5%	E
1.6 Diesel	2,854	67.0%	Beats 27%	D
1.6 Petrol	1,252	59.7%	Beats 2%	E

2012 Renault Scenic3 engines60.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	17,038	61.8%	Beats 19%	E
1.6 Petrol	5,104	56.0%	Beats 3%	E
1.6 Diesel	2,070	60.6%	Beats 22%	D

2011 Renault Scenic4 engines58.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	23,852	59.4%	Beats 23%	D
1.6 Petrol	12,342	55.0%	Beats 7%	E
1.6 Diesel	1,574	59.5%	Beats 27%	D
1.9 Diesel	1,571	58.7%	Beats 27%	D

2010 Renault Scenic6 engines55.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	39,204	54.1%	Beats 20%	D
1.6 Petrol	9,820	55.5%	Beats 18%	E
1.9 Diesel	4,562	54.7%	Beats 24%	D
2.0 Petrol	2,925	66.0%	Beats 57%	C
2.0 Diesel	2,654	57.3%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Petrol	1,742	63.2%	Beats 54%	C

2009 Renault Scenic5 engines54.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	8,245	51.9%	Beats 23%	D
1.6 Petrol	7,422	54.1%	Beats 19%	E
1.4 Petrol	2,187	59.0%	Beats 39%	D
2.0 Petrol	1,623	63.6%	Beats 52%	C
1.9 Diesel	1,320	54.3%	Beats 34%	D

2008 Renault Scenic5 engines47.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	24,538	49.2%	Beats 13%	E
1.5 Diesel	8,416	44.2%	Beats 12%	E
1.9 Diesel	2,466	44.9%	Beats 13%	E
1.4 Petrol	1,178	46.4%	Beats 9%	E
2.0 Petrol	1,160	50.0%	Beats 15%	E

2007 Renault Scenic6 engines46.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	35,145	46.1%	Beats 11%	E
1.5 Diesel	11,028	45.1%	Beats 16%	E
1.9 Diesel	3,656	46.1%	Beats 17%	E
2.0 Petrol	1,902	49.1%	Beats 16%	E
1.4 Petrol	1,195	46.9%	Beats 12%	E
2.0 Diesel	1,062	46.8%	Beats 18%	E

2006 Renault Scenic5 engines47.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	28,002	48.7%	Beats 20%	D
1.5 Diesel	8,209	46.1%	Beats 23%	D
1.4 Petrol	3,387	43.8%	Beats 10%	E
2.0 Petrol	2,777	47.2%	Beats 19%	E
1.9 Diesel	2,119	44.7%	Beats 17%	E

2005 Renault Scenic5 engines44.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	15,106	45.7%	Beats 4%	E
1.5 Diesel	4,852	42.4%	Beats 4%	E
1.9 Diesel	2,739	44.4%	Beats 5%	E
2.0 Petrol	2,386	46.7%	Beats 4%	E
1.4 Petrol	2,080	43.6%	Beats 2%	E

2004 Renault Scenic5 engines44.2% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	11,807	44.5%	Beats 3%	E
1.4 Petrol	4,375	40.7%	Beats 2%	E
1.5 Diesel	3,097	45.5%	Beats 5%	E
1.9 Diesel	2,395	45.1%	Beats 6%	E
2.0 Petrol	1,230	48.9%	Beats 7%	E

2003 Renault Scenic4 engines49.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	16,706	50.4%	Beats 39%	D
1.4 Petrol	5,118	46.0%	Beats 25%	D
1.9 Diesel	4,938	49.9%	Beats 44%	C
2.0 Petrol	1,309	50.6%	Beats 32%	D

2002 Renault Scenic5 engines50.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	15,444	51.1%	Beats 45%	C
1.9 Diesel	4,158	48.4%	Beats 42%	C
1.4 Petrol	3,740	49.5%	Beats 40%	C
2.0 Petrol	1,574	51.8%	Beats 46%	C
1.8 Petrol	1,150	47.7%	Beats 38%	D

2001 Renault Scenic4 engines50.8% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	11,189	51.2%	Beats 43%	C
1.4 Petrol	2,599	48.6%	Beats 35%	D
1.9 Diesel	2,101	51.2%	Beats 50%	C
2.0 Petrol	1,456	51.2%	Beats 43%	C

2000 Renault Scenic3 engines49.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	6,199	49.2%	Beats 33%	D
2.0 Petrol	1,102	51.9%	Beats 39%	D
1.4 Petrol	1,048	49.1%	Beats 31%	D

1999 Renault Scenic1 engine53.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	1,316	53.2%	Beats 36%	D

FAQ

What is the Renault Scenic MOT pass rate?

54.4% of MOT tests on the Renault Scenic were passed first time, based on 516,136 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1999–2019. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 62.8% of the time.

Is the Renault Scenic reliable?

On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 16% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Renault Scenic year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2002 Scenic does best for its age and mileage: it beats 44% of cars on UK roads. The 2004 does worst: it beats 3%.

Which Renault Scenic engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.9 Diesel does best: it beats 24% of cars on UK roads. The 1.5 Diesel does worst: it beats 14%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Renault Scenic?

The most common failure items are sidelights, coil springs, drive shaft (CV) joints. Compared with similar cars, track rod ends comes up 3.0× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Renault Scenic reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ