Renault Captur MOT Failures
An analysis of 1,605,744 real DVSA MOT tests on the Renault Captur — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: J87 (2013–2022).
Where the Renault Captur fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Renault Captur is transmission joint, belt or chain worn — this model is 11 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it worth watching for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 1,605,744 MOT tests, 0.07% of all Renault Captur tests recorded this as a failure.
Bodywork failures usually mean structural corrosion — not cosmetic rust, but rot that affects the car's structural integrity. Check sills, subframes, and chassis rails carefully, especially on older examples.
Other notable weak points include suspension pin, bush or joint (6.7x the fleet average), reversing lamp not securely attached (33x the fleet average), service brake pedal has excessive wear or free ... (28x the fleet average), and front or rear fog lamp not securely attached (20x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Renault Captur's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 5 categories: Bodywork, Suspension, Lights & Electrics, Brakes, Tyres. If you're inspecting a Renault Captur before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Renault Captur's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Renault Captur specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are lamp not securely attached (22x the average) and reversing lamp not securely attached (19x). service brake pedal has excessive wear or free ... (15x) and transmission joint, belt or chain worn (8.2x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Renault Captur specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are reversing lamp not securely attached (33x the average) and service brake pedal has excessive wear or free ... (13x). transmission joint, belt or chain worn (8.4x) and front or rear fog lamp not securely attached (6.5x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Renault Captur specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are front or rear fog lamp not securely attached (20x the average) and reversing lamp inoperative (9.4x). transmission joint, belt or chain worn (8.5x) and suspension pin, bush or joint (6.7x) also appear frequently.
The shift from lamp not securely attached at lower mileages to front or rear fog lamp not securely attached at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Renault Captur specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Drive belt and timing chain wear (J87) Major
The 1.5 dCi engine suffers from premature transmission joint, belt and chain wear that affects drive to the wheels. Affects J87; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.
Suspension bush and joint wear (J87) Major
The Captur suffers from accelerated suspension bush and joint deterioration, with MOT data showing failure rates up to 8.4 times the national fleet average. Affects J87; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£500.
Turbo failure (J87) Major
The small-displacement TCe turbocharged engines (0.9 and 1.2 litre) suffer from turbocharger failure due to the high stress placed on undersized turbochargers. Affects J87; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£1,200.
DPF issues (J87) Major
The 1.5 dCi diesel engine suffers from diesel particulate filter (DPF) blockage, particularly on vehicles used predominantly for short journeys. Affects J87; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£800.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Renault Captur common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Renault Captur
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Renault Captur:
Bodywork — check for transmission joint, belt or chain worn, transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot.... Suspension — check for suspension pin, bush or joint. Lights & Electrics — check for reversing lamp not securely attached, front or rear fog lamp not securely attached, reversing lamp inoperative. Brakes — check for service brake pedal has excessive wear or free ....
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about drive belt and timing chain wear and suspension bush and joint wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £200. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Renault Captur?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Renault Captur MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Renault Captur?
Based on 1,605,744 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is transmission joint, belt or chain worn — at 11x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include suspension pin, bush or joint and reversing lamp not securely attached.
Is the Renault Captur reliable based on MOT data?
The Renault Captur has 12 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag drive belt and timing chain wear as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Renault Captur most commonly fails on front or rear fog lamp not securely attached and reversing lamp inoperative. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are lamp not securely attached and reversing lamp not securely attached.
How do I check a Renault Captur's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.