Renault Koleos MOT Failures
An analysis of 64,925 real DVSA MOT tests on the Renault Koleos — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: Gen1 (2008–2016), Gen2 (2017–2023).
Where the Renault Koleos fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Renault Koleos is track rod ends worn — this model is 58 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a major concern for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 64,925 MOT tests, 2.38% of all Renault Koleos tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include suspension component damaged or corroded (14x the fleet average), anti-roll bar links worn (10x the fleet average), light unit fault (8.1x the fleet average), and emissions failure (6.6x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Renault Koleos'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: Steering, Suspension, Lights & Electrics, Exhaust & Emissions, Wipers & Windscreen. If you're inspecting a Renault Koleos 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 Koleos'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 Koleos specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... (43x the average) and track rod ends worn (8.8x). emissions failure (6.4x) and anti-roll bar links worn (5.2x) 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 Koleos specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are suspension component damaged or corroded (14x the average) and anti-roll bar links worn (10x). light unit fault (8.1x) and structural corrosion (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 Koleos specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are obstruction significantly affecting the driver'... (10x the average) and suspension component damaged or corroded (9.4x). light unit fault (6.7x) and anti-roll bar links worn (6.3x) also appear frequently.
The shift from free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... at lower mileages to obstruction significantly affecting the driver'... 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 Koleos specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Suspension ball joint excessive wear Dangerous
The front suspension lower ball joints show excessive wear and free play at significantly higher rates than other vehicles. Affects Gen1, Gen2; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.
Suspension component corrosion Major
Suspension components show excessive damage or corrosion at 13.6 times the fleet average, with peak failures occurring between 60,000-80,000 miles. Affects Gen1, Gen2; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£350.
Steering free play excessive Major
The steering system develops excessive free play at the steering wheel at 17.8 times the fleet average, with peak occurrences between 40,000-60,000 miles. Affects Gen1, Gen2; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.
Suspension pin or bush wear
Suspension bushes and pins show excessive wear at 10.1 times the fleet average, affecting both diesel variants. Affects Gen1, Gen2; typical independent garage repair cost is £120–£280.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Renault Koleos common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Renault Koleos
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Renault Koleos:
Steering — check for track rod ends worn, free play in the steering, measured at the rim .... Suspension — check for suspension component damaged or corroded, anti-roll bar links worn, subframe bushes or mounts worn. Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about suspension ball joint excessive wear and suspension component corrosion. 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 Koleos?
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Renault Koleos MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Renault Koleos?
Based on 64,925 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is track rod ends worn — at 58x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include suspension component damaged or corroded and anti-roll bar links worn.
Is the Renault Koleos reliable based on MOT data?
The Renault Koleos has 9 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag suspension ball joint excessive 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 Koleos most commonly fails on obstruction significantly affecting the driver'... and suspension component damaged or corroded. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... and track rod ends worn.
How do I check a Renault Koleos'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.