Reliability report
Renault Espace reliability and common faults
Based on 51,985 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
44.3%
fail rate · average 34.6%
much worse than average
562 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
58.7%
with defects · average 51.4%
much worse than average
16,975 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
37.9%
first-time pass · average 42.1%
worse than average
34,448 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Renault Espace
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Steeringconfirmed in 2 countries
Wheels
Suspensionconfirmed in 2 countries
Brakesconfirmed in 2 countries
Seat belts and airbagsconfirmed in 2 countries
Plates and identificationconfirmed in 2 countries
Body and structure
Visibility
Lights and electrics
Tyresconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissions
Most common test failures
- 1Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 2Tyre insufficient tread
- 3Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 4Spring broken or cracked
- 5Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 6Tie rod end has too much play
- 7Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 8Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 9Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 10Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 11Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault
- 12Sidelight not working (properly)
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | — | 21.6% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | — | 39.2% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | — | 47.3% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | — | 69.5% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 44.3% avg 34.6% | 76.4% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | — | 77.5% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Espace | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 77.5% | 83.2% | 40 |
| 2018 | 69.7% | 79.5% | 89 |
| 2017 | 78.5% | 76.6% | 209 |
| 2016 | 70.3% | 72.8% | 435 |
| 2015 | 75.2% | 71.1% | 451 |
| 2013 | 46.2% | 65.9% | 93 |
| 2012 | 44.9% | 63.7% | 89 |
| 2011 | 48.8% | 61.2% | 203 |
| 2010 | 42.1% | 57.3% | 328 |
| 2009 | 48.0% | 54.5% | 323 |
| 2008 | 42.5% | 52.4% | 638 |
| 2007 | 41.9% | 50.6% | 1,221 |
| 2006 | 42.5% | 48.7% | 1,788 |
| 2005 | 44.1% | 46.6% | 2,193 |
| 2004 | 40.4% | 44.5% | 2,808 |
Renault Espace – FAQs
How reliable is the Renault Espace?+
In the UK the Renault Espace fails 44.3% of MOT tests, against an average of 34.6% for cars of the same age – much worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 58.7% of APK inspections (average there 51.4%) – much worse than average. In Lithuania 37.9% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 42.1%) – worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Renault Espace?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: steering, wheels, suspension, brakes.
What should I check when buying a used Renault Espace?+
The most common inspection failures: Excessive leakage of other fluids; Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Spring broken or cracked; Tyre pressure not at correct value. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Renault models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).