Used car guide

2016 Renault Twingo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Renault Twingos, from 2,958 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,958MOT tests in 2025
69%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
4,700typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Renault Twingos than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Ball joint3.5× usual
    Renault Twingo
    9.8% All 2016 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.8%, against 1.5% of all 2016 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.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)13× usual
    Renault Twingo
    6.5% All 2016 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 0.5% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Exhaust system3.2× usual
    Renault Twingo
    6.3% All 2016 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 0.5% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints3.2× usual
    Renault Twingo
    3.2% All 2016 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.4% of all 2016 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.

  • Individual direction indicators4× usual
    Renault Twingo
    2.4% All 2016 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.2% of all 2016 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.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 2% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Renault Twingo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% 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
    22% 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
    21% 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
    10% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    9% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • 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.

Looking at a Renault Twingo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2018796Tyres 31%
20171,400Tyres 31%
20155,065Tyres 32%
2014903Suspension 34%
2013950Suspension 48%
20121,236Suspension 49%
20112,316Suspension 52%
20103,728Suspension 50%
20091,450Suspension 51%
20082,284Suspension 54%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Renault Twingos registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score