MOT failures by make
Renault MOT failures for “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play”
Renault cars failed their MOT on “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play” in 4.49% of 1,998,608 tests in 2023–2024 (89,743 tests) — 4.0 times as often as comparable cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, which would have failed on it in about 1.12% of tests. It is the number 3 most common failure item on Renaults.
Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto
- Renault tests failing on it
- 4.49%
- 89,743 of 1,998,608 tests, 2023–2024
- Comparable cars
- 1.12%
- national rate at the same age, mileage and fuel
- Observed ÷ expected
- 3.99×
- 73 Auto analysis · rank #3 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 3.07× 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 steering part of the test. Nationally it appears on 1.07% of MOT tests.
Renault models and “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play”
The Renault Trafic is most affected (7.05× comparable cars); the Renault Master least (0.19×). 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 Trafic | 218,161 | 9.37% | 7.05× |
| Renault Megane | 227,348 | 6.83% | 4.30× |
| Renault Grand Scenic | 45,790 | 6.95% | 4.06× |
| Renault Kangoo | 115,449 | 6.26% | 4.01× |
| Renault Clio | 663,662 | 4.56% | 3.93× |
| Renault Twingo | 51,208 | 4.18% | 3.83× |
| Renault Modus | 26,014 | 6.61% | 3.54× |
| Renault Scenic | 80,388 | 6.06% | 3.48× |
| Renault Zoe | 37,670 | 0.40% | 1.05× |
| Renault Kadjar | 136,997 | 0.34% | 0.99× |
| Renault Laguna | 20,878 | 2.12% | 0.97× |
| Renault Captur | 300,538 | 0.27% | 0.53× |
| Renault Master | 31,505 | 0.35% | 0.19× |
By age at test
The difference is largest at 13-15 years old: 8.86% of Renault tests against 1.94% for comparable cars.
| Age (years) | Renault tests | Renault | Comparable cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 229,419 | 0.32% | 0.09% |
| 5-6 | 291,003 | 0.96% | 0.25% |
| 7-8 | 341,733 | 2.83% | 0.70% |
| 9-10 | 229,957 | 4.80% | 1.45% |
| 11-12 | 211,505 | 8.77% | 1.93% |
| 13-15 | 312,897 | 8.86% | 1.94% |
| 16+ | 314,105 | 6.10% | 1.79% |
Other Renault MOT faults that stand out
- 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
- 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?
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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.