Renault
Modus
23,193 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Moduss pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 14.2 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
63.3%
Pass-after-fix
5.6%
Fail
30.5%
Avg miles
78,620
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Renault Modus: challenging MOT record across 19,443 tests
The Renault Modus is a petrol-powered car sold in the UK market across multiple generations, covering a broad date range in the test population.
MOT data from 19,443 tests puts this car on a 63.6% first-time pass rate, well below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 76,371 miles. The most common fail item is fractured or weakened suspension spring, followed by failed number plate light.
Sensible, practical little car with good features like 'Triptic' rear seat and some diesel engines under 121g/km. Plenty of character too.
The Modus's pass rate warrants caution in the used market. Factor in likely first-test remedial work on the common failure items and get a pre-purchase inspection that covers the specific items this car trips on most.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 8–14
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
8–14
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
1,491 occurrences · 6.4% of tests
- 02
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
1,306 occurrences · 5.6% of tests
- 03
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
1,147 occurrences · 4.9% of tests
- 04
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
1,127 occurrences · 4.9% of tests
- 05
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
893 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 06
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
872 occurrences · 3.8% of tests
- 07
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
842 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 08
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
527 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 09
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
515 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 10
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
509 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£178–£595
If every one of this Modus's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
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Hycote
Hycote Renault Black Pearlescent Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
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Hycote
Hycote Renault Tungsten Metallic Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
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Hycote
Hycote Renault Glacier White Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Renault Platinum Metallic Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
Sensible, practical little car with good features like 'Triptic' rear seat and some diesel engines under 121g/km. Plenty of character too.
Recall history
5 UK recalls on record.
The Modus has 5 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping a Modus?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Modus and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.