Tall-riding French mini-MPV with clever practicality
The Grand Modus launched in the UK in February 2008, stretching the standard Modus by 93mm in wheelbase for more rear legroom and boot space. Competing against the Nissan Note and Honda Jazz, it offered an elevated driving position popular with older buyers. Production ended in 2012 and used prices now sit between £1,500-£4,000. The 1.5 dCi diesel with 119g/km CO2 remains the most economical choice, returning 60mpg+ on the official cycle.
We track 5 known issues across the Renault Grand Modus range, with 5 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Renault Grand Modus? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
GM1 (2005–2012) — Petrol options included the 1.1 16v, 1.6 16v, with 1.5 dCi on the diesel side. We track 5 known issues on this generation, with 5 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Excessive smoke emissions (£300–£800 to address).
This indicates problems with the diesel particulate filter (DPF) system, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve contamination, or injector wear causing incomplete combustion. The issue worsens with age and affects all diesel variants across the production run.
MOT failure is certain until resolved. DPF blockage requires professional cleaning or replacement costing £800-£1,500. EGR valve replacement typically costs £300-£600. Injector refurbishment or replacement costs £600-£1,200 for a full set. Continued driving with excessive smoke damages the turbocharger and exhaust system.
Ask about the car's typical usage — short urban journeys prevent DPF regeneration. Check for DPF warning lights and ask about any previous regeneration issues. A forced regeneration at a garage costs far less than a DPF replacement.
Steering ball joints on Grand Modus models fail at rates up to 26.2 times higher than the national fleet average, with failures documented from as low as 20,000 miles. The issue affects all engine variants and appears to be a design weakness rather than wear-related. Ball joint failure creates dangerous steering play and can cause loss of control.
Complete ball joint failure causes loss of steering control and presents an immediate safety risk. The vehicle should not be driven if ball joint wear is severe. Replacement of both sides typically costs £200-£400 but failure to address the issue risks a dangerous accident.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
Coil springs fail at rates up to 13.3 times higher than the national average, with documented failures from 20,000 miles across all variants. Spring failure typically occurs at the bottom coil where road salt and debris collect, causing corrosion and metal fatigue. This is a common problem on French superminis of this era.
Broken springs affect vehicle stability, braking performance, and tyre wear. A completely failed spring can damage the shock absorber, brake lines, or ABS sensors. The car remains drivable with caution but should be repaired promptly. Replacement typically costs £150-£300 per pair.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
Suspension components show corrosion damage at rates up to 13.5 times higher than the fleet average. This typically affects control arms, subframe mounting points, and suspension links where road salt and moisture collect. The problem is exacerbated by poor corrosion protection on steel suspension components and affects structural safety.
Severe corrosion can cause suspension component failure resulting in loss of vehicle control. Components weakened by corrosion may fail suddenly under load. Professional inspection is essential to assess structural integrity. Repair costs vary widely depending on which components are affected but can reach £500-£800 for multiple items.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
Brake calipers seize at rates up to 9.8 times higher than the national average, causing binding brakes that fail MOT testing. The issue typically affects the rear calipers where corrosion and debris cause the sliding mechanism to stick, preventing proper brake release. This creates dangerous braking imbalance and accelerated pad wear.
Binding brakes cause premature pad and disc wear, reduce fuel economy, and create dangerous braking imbalance. Severe seizure can cause brake fade or complete brake failure. The affected wheel may become dangerously hot. Caliper refurbishment typically costs £150-£300 per side.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Renault Grand Modus common problems page.
Based on 18k real DVSA MOT tests, the Renault Grand Modus fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is emissions failure at 95x the fleet average, followed by light unit fault (47x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Renault Grand Modus MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 13k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
See the full Renault Grand Modus service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Renault Grand Modus is a solid choice on the used market, though not without its quirks. The issues we track are well-understood and largely avoidable if you know what to look for. A thorough inspection and complete service history go a long way. 2009-2011 Grand Modus with the 1.5 dCi 86 diesel and manual gearbox is the best combination — early 2008 cars had more electrical teething issues, and by 2009 production quality had settled. Avoid the automatic gearbox entirely as it lacks durability. The 1.2 TCe petrol turbo is an alternative if you prefer petrol, but the diesel's economy is hard to beat for higher-mileage drivers.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Renault Grand Modus, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Renault Grand Modus issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.