Used car guide

2008 Renault Grand Scenic petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Renault Grand Scenic first registered in 2008 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 2,065 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,065MOTs of 2008 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
45%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,200typical miles a year
9.2×the usual rate for steering rack inner joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2008 Renault Grand Scenic petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2008 Renault Grand Scenic petrol than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Steering rack inner joints9.2× usual
    Renault Grand Scenic
    24.9% All 2008 cars
    2.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Sidelights3.1× usual
    Renault Grand Scenic
    22.6% All 2008 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 22.2%, against 6.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Ball joint2.6× usual
    Renault Grand Scenic
    16.4% All 2008 cars
    6.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.3%, against 3.2% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Number plate lights2× usual
    Renault Grand Scenic
    16.8% All 2008 cars
    8.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 2.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Track rod ends2.5× usual
    Renault Grand Scenic
    12.7% All 2008 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 2.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 4.6% here, against 10.6% of all 2008 cars. Brake lights: 1% here, against 5.5% of all 2008 cars.

Common 2008 Renault Grand Scenic petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2008 Renault Grand Scenic petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    50% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    43% 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
    39% 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.

  • Steering
    29% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    13% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2008 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 steering rack inner joints? (Flagged at MOT 9.2× as often on the 2008 Renault Grand Scenic petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the 2008 Renault Grand Scenic petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2008 Renault Grand Scenic petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. 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%
20073,315Suspension 56%
20062,081Suspension 51%
20051,462Suspension 54%
2004209Lights and electrics 52%

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 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score