Used car guide

2018 Renault Grand Scenic: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Renault Grand Scenics, from 649 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

649MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
8,100typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Renault Grand Scenics than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints3.3× usual
    Renault Grand Scenic
    10.6% All 2018 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.5% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Brake lights7× usual
    Renault Grand Scenic
    6.3% All 2018 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 0.7% of all 2018 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.

  • Headlights5.2× usual
    Renault Grand Scenic
    5.7% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 1% of all 2018 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.

By area

The share of 2018 Renault Grand Scenic MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    34% 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.

  • Suspension
    24% 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
    24% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    19% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    6% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Renault Grand Scenic?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2019903Tyres 33%
20171,097Tyres 35%
20161,307Suspension 34%
20151,368Suspension 36%
2014848Suspension 41%
20121,370Suspension 51%
20113,106Suspension 54%
20103,422Suspension 53%
2009977Suspension 51%
2008777Suspension 54%
2007735Suspension 58%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Renault Grand Scenics registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score