MOT failures by make
Renault MOT failures for “Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn”
Renault cars failed their MOT on “Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn” in 4.84% of 1,998,608 tests in 2023–2024 (96,772 tests) — 3.2 times as often as comparable cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, which would have failed on it in about 1.51% of tests. It is the number 2 most common failure item on Renaults.
Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto
- Renault tests failing on it
- 4.84%
- 96,772 of 1,998,608 tests, 2023–2024
- Comparable cars
- 1.51%
- national rate at the same age, mileage and fuel
- Observed ÷ expected
- 3.21×
- 73 Auto analysis · rank #2 for Renault
How unusual this is for the make
Across all MOT failures, Renaults fail 1.30× as often as comparable cars. On this item the gap is 2.47× wider than that overall level, so it is a genuine Renault pattern rather than a reflection of how often the make fails in general. It is a major defect in the suspension part of the test. Nationally it appears on 1.43% of MOT tests.
Renault models and “Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn”
The Renault Clio is most affected (4.36× comparable cars); the Renault Laguna least (1.14×). Every model listed is above the national rate, so the pattern runs across the range. Model rows compare with cars of the same age and fuel.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Clio | 663,662 | 7.03% | 4.36× |
| Renault Captur | 300,538 | 2.85% | 3.88× |
| Renault Zoe | 37,670 | 5.98% | 3.12× |
| Renault Trafic | 218,161 | 4.78% | 2.98× |
| Renault Twingo | 51,208 | 4.46% | 2.60× |
| Renault Megane | 227,348 | 4.77% | 2.36× |
| Renault Grand Scenic | 45,790 | 4.69% | 2.25× |
| Renault Scenic | 80,388 | 4.63% | 2.16× |
| Renault Modus | 26,014 | 5.19% | 2.16× |
| Renault Kangoo | 115,449 | 3.80% | 1.95× |
| Renault Kadjar | 136,997 | 0.80% | 1.60× |
| Renault Master | 31,505 | 2.48% | 1.16× |
| Renault Laguna | 20,878 | 3.03% | 1.14× |
By age at test
The difference is largest at 5-6 years old: 3.05% of Renault tests against 0.45% for comparable cars.
| Age (years) | Renault tests | Renault | Comparable cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 229,419 | 0.84% | 0.14% |
| 5-6 | 291,003 | 3.05% | 0.45% |
| 7-8 | 341,733 | 5.27% | 1.15% |
| 9-10 | 229,957 | 6.87% | 1.89% |
| 11-12 | 211,505 | 6.11% | 2.44% |
| 13-15 | 312,897 | 6.18% | 2.57% |
| 16+ | 314,105 | 6.30% | 2.20% |
Other Renault MOT faults that stand out
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play · 3.99× comparable cars
- Coil spring: fractured or broken · 2.36× comparable cars
- Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt · 1.98× comparable cars
- Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn · 2.23× comparable cars
- Stop lamp: not working · 1.64× comparable cars
- Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps · 1.82× comparable cars
Limitations
Official data: DVSA's anonymised MOT results (2023–2024), class 4 initial tests, cars at least 2.5 years old. 73 Auto analysis: the comparison rate applies the national rate of this item for each test's own age, mileage band and fuel to the Renault tests. An MOT result reflects maintenance, mileage and how a car is used as well as its design, so this is not a measure of which make is most reliable. The wording of the defect is DVSA's.
Has this Renault failed on it before?
Enter a registration to see that car’s own MOT history, advisories and the running costs 73 Auto expects. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
Where these figures come from
- Anonymised MOT tests and results (2023 and 2024) — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Open Government Licence v3.0.
Figures labelled as 73 Auto estimates are our own analysis of these sources, set out in the methodology and data sources. To report a factual error, see corrections.