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MOT performance

Renault Kangoo vs Ford Transit Courier: MOT pass rates compared

In 2023–2024, 54.1% of 115,449 Renault Kangoo MOT tests and 70.9% of 51,128 Ford Transit Courier tests passed first time — 16.8 points in favour of the Ford Transit Courier. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the Ford Transit Courier fails less often than the Renault Kangoo: 1.29× against 1.38× the national rate for comparable cars.

115,449 Renault Kangoo and 51,128 Ford Transit Courier MOT tests, 2023–2024

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At a glance

Renault Kangoo vs Ford Transit Courier MOT results
FigureValueBasis
Renault Kangoo: first-time pass rate54.1%±0.3 pts (95%), n = 115,449
Ford Transit Courier: first-time pass rate70.9%±0.4 pts (95%), n = 51,128
Renault Kangoo: failures vs similar cars+38%same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Ford Transit Courier: failures vs similar cars+29%same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Renault Kangoo: dangerous defect12.3%n = 115,449
Ford Transit Courier: dangerous defect7.8%n = 51,128
Average age at test11.3 vs 5.2 yearsRenault Kangoo vs Ford Transit Courier

Why the raw pass rates can mislead

The Renault Kangoo was tested at an older average age (11.3 years against 5.2), and older cars fail more often whatever they are. That is why the table above also shows failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel: it compares the models, not their fleets.

Failure areas side by side

Share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and in brackets how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel (1.00 = national average). The clearest difference is seat belts and airbags, where the Renault Kangoo fails 4.2 times as often on an adjusted basis.

Renault Kangoo vs Ford Transit Courier MOT failures by area
AreaRenault KangooFord Transit Courier
Brakes13.9% (+62%)4.0% (-18%)
Steering9.1% (+259%)1.2% (+42%)
Suspension15.2% (+31%)4.6% (+5%)
Tyres8.3% (+18%)7.0% (+9%)
Road wheels0.2% (-47%)0.2% (-48%)
Lights, reflectors and electrical21.9% (+57%)15.3% (+109%)
Body, chassis and structure10.2% (+116%)1.2% (-21%)
Driver's view of the road10.0% (+89%)6.4% (+63%)
Noise, emissions and leaks3.4% (-8%)4.0% (+77%)
Seat belts and airbags2.7% (+92%)0.3% (-54%)
Registration plates and VIN0.4% (-11%)0.4% (+35%)

Pass rate at the same age

Comparing cars of the same age removes most of the fleet-age effect from the raw rates.

Renault Kangoo vs Ford Transit Courier MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at testRenault KangooFord Transit Courier
3-4 years69.6% (n = 10,102)76.3% (n = 15,925)
5-6 years60.9% (n = 10,415)70.6% (n = 15,164)
7-8 years56.0% (n = 14,536)62.9% (n = 11,733)
9-10 years49.6% (n = 11,917)59.9% (n = 2,938)

Most common failure item

  • Renault Kangoo · joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (7.21% of tests)
  • Ford Transit Courier · stop lamp: not working (6.02% of tests)

MOT results reflect how cars are maintained as well as how they are built, so a gap between two models is a difference in test performance, not proof that one is more reliable. For one car, its own MOT history says more than any average.

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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.