Used car guide

2004 Renault Grand Scenic petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Renault Grand Scenic first registered in 2004 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 142 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 142 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

142MOTs of 2004 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
49%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 57%)
3,600typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for headlights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 Renault Grand Scenic petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2004 Renault Grand Scenic petrol than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Headlights2.3× usual
    Renault Grand Scenic
    29.6% All 2004 cars
    13.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 12%, against 4.9% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Common 2004 Renault Grand Scenic petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2004 Renault Grand Scenic petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    52% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    51% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    44% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    37% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    18% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Steering
    14% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 Renault Grand Scenic petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2004 Renault Grand Scenic petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Renault Grand Scenic?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Renault Grand Scenic compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020791Tyres 28%
20192,668Tyres 34%
20181,963Tyres 35%
20173,284Tyres 34%
20163,936Tyres 33%
20154,203Tyres 35%
20142,654Tyres 37%
20131,533Suspension 44%
20124,568Suspension 48%
201111,298Suspension 51%
201012,726Suspension 52%
20093,746Suspension 51%
20083,276Suspension 53%
20073,315Suspension 56%
20062,081Suspension 51%
20051,462Suspension 54%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Renault Grand Scenic cars first registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score