MOT fail rates by first-use year
2003 Renault Kangoo MOT fail rate and common faults
How Renault Kangoo cars first used in 2003 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2024, against all cars of the same age. From 4,819 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 21 years, tested in 2024
What stands out
- In 2024, at 21 years old, Renault Kangoo cars first used in 2003 failed 48.6% of MOTs (1,297 tests), 6.5 points above the 42.1% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2024, as these cars went from 19 to 21 years old, the fail rate moved from 52.4% to 48.6%.
- Renault Kangoo cars first used a year earlier, in 2002, failed 48.6% at the same age of 21 years (1,108 tests, in 2023).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Renault Kangoo at 21 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 7.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.0).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 19 years | 52.4% | 1,949 | 43.2% | +9.2 pts |
| 2023 | 20 years | 50.5% | 1,573 | 42.8% | +7.8 pts |
| 2024 | 21 years | 48.6% | 1,297 | 42.1% | +6.5 pts |
Most common faults at 21 years
These figures cover all Renault Kangoo MOTs at 21 years: cars first used 2001 to 2004, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,651). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 7.5 | 3.0 |
| Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 6.2 | 0.9 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 5.2 | 4.9 |
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play | 5.0 | 1.9 |
| Airbag (SRS) warning light on | 5.0 | 1.4 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 4.7 | 3.5 |
| Coil spring broken | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Washers: not working Wear | 4.0 | 1.4 |
| Suspension ball joint worn | 4.0 | 2.2 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Wear | 3.5 | 1.8 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,651). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 20.0 | 14.8 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 19.4 | 14.8 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 13.4 | 10.4 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 12.6 | 15.9 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 11.9 | 10.4 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 11.4 | 5.3 |
| Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) | 10.5 | 3.5 |
| Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 10.0 | 1.8 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | 7.8 | 3.8 |
| Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view | 6.8 | 3.9 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=4,651). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 21 years
These figures cover all Renault Kangoo MOTs at 21 years: cars first used 2001 to 2004, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,651). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 55.3% | 49.3% | 2,570 | 43.0% | 112,016 miles |
| Petrol | 44.7% | 47.6% | 2,078 | 41.7% | 74,081 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 21 years
These figures cover all Renault Kangoo MOTs at 21 years: cars first used 2001 to 2004, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=4,651). At 21 years, Renault Kangoo cars at 90,000 to 120,000 miles failed less often (50.6%, n=1,171) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (51.0%, n=1,214). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 51.0% | 1,214 | 40.6% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 50.6% | 1,171 | 44.7% |
Car tax rules for a 2003 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
- Electric cars have paid vehicle tax since 1 April 2025, under the rules for their registration date.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Many petrol cars first registered from 2001 to 2005 already meet Euro 4, but not all of them. For a 2003 petrol car the Euro standard of that car decides.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2003 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- Fully electric cars do not pay the ULEZ charge.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Renault Kangoo
Other Renault models first used in 2003
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Trafic (2003) | 22 years in 2025 | 51.7% | 1,173 | 41.0% |
More on the Renault Kangoo
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2003 Renault Kangoo cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.