MOT failures by make
Renault MOT failures for “Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn”
Renault cars failed their MOT on “Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn” in 1.64% of 1,998,608 tests in 2023–2024 (32,725 tests) — 2.2 times as often as comparable cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, which would have failed on it in about 0.74% of tests. It is the number 15 most common failure item on Renaults.
Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto
- Renault tests failing on it
- 1.64%
- 32,725 of 1,998,608 tests, 2023–2024
- Comparable cars
- 0.74%
- national rate at the same age, mileage and fuel
- Observed ÷ expected
- 2.23×
- 73 Auto analysis · rank #15 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 1.71× 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 0.68% of MOT tests.
Renault models and “Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn”
The Renault Captur is most affected (4.92× comparable cars); the Renault Master least (0.12×). Not every model follows the make: the pattern is concentrated in some models. Model rows compare with cars of the same age and fuel.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Captur | 300,538 | 1.24% | 4.92× |
| Renault Trafic | 218,161 | 3.97% | 4.46× |
| Renault Zoe | 37,670 | 1.15% | 3.06× |
| Renault Megane | 227,348 | 3.03% | 2.83× |
| Renault Grand Scenic | 45,790 | 3.15% | 2.65× |
| Renault Scenic | 80,388 | 2.61% | 2.19× |
| Renault Kadjar | 136,997 | 0.39% | 1.97× |
| Renault Laguna | 20,878 | 2.54% | 1.53× |
| Renault Clio | 663,662 | 0.94% | 1.24× |
| Renault Modus | 26,014 | 1.62% | 1.14× |
| Renault Twingo | 51,208 | 0.60% | 0.89× |
| Renault Kangoo | 115,449 | 0.64% | 0.60× |
| Renault Master | 31,505 | 0.15% | 0.12× |
By age at test
The difference is largest at 3-4 years old: 0.38% of Renault tests against 0.06% for comparable cars.
| Age (years) | Renault tests | Renault | Comparable cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 229,419 | 0.38% | 0.06% |
| 5-6 | 291,003 | 0.96% | 0.18% |
| 7-8 | 341,733 | 1.92% | 0.36% |
| 9-10 | 229,957 | 2.17% | 0.60% |
| 11-12 | 211,505 | 2.85% | 1.18% |
| 13-15 | 312,897 | 2.56% | 1.51% |
| 16+ | 314,105 | 1.09% | 1.33% |
Other Renault MOT faults that stand out
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play · 3.99× comparable cars
- Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn · 3.21× 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
- 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?
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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.