Used car guide · 1994–2012

Renault Laguna common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Renault Laguna, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 28,125 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

28,125MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
16,190on the UK register
2008best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994

What usually goes wrong with a Renault Laguna?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Renault Laguna in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Renault Laguna MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Steering swivel joints

    up to 10.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    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.

  • Steering rack inner joints

    up to 4.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    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.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

    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.

  • Brake discs

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2011.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

  • Sub-frame bushes

    up to 14.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Renault Laguna MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2008 Renault Laguna did best (53% passed first time, 4 points below all 2008 cars) and the 2012 did worst (58%, 6 points below all 2012 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201258%64% -6778
201157%62% -54,326
201054%60% -65,018
200953%59% -63,558
200853%57% -45,891
200751%57% -62,713
200652%56% -41,392
200553%57% -41,132
200454%57% -31,168
200349%57% -8831
200257%58% -1506
200161%60% +1187 (small sample)
200065%61% +4319 (small sample)
199964%63% +1185 (small sample)
199860%65% -5121 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Renault Laguna

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 swivel joints? (Flagged at MOT 10.4× as often on the Renault Laguna as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the steering rack inner joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.8× as often on the Renault Laguna as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the Renault Laguna as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Renault Laguna?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score