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MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

Renault Kadjar reliability: what the MOT shows

69,280 Kadjars had an MOT in 2025. 73.6% passed first time, against 79.4% for other cars of the same age and mileage. Most of the gap comes from cars registered from 2015 to 2018, which fail on suspension 1.8 times as often as comparable cars. Those registered from 2021 onwards pass as often as other cars their age.

73.6%passed first time
−5.7points against cars of the same age and mileage
1.7×as many suspension failures as comparable cars
Report card

Renault Kadjar MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often Kadjars of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse
YearPassed first timeAgainst same age and mileageMOTsSuspensionSteeringBrakesTyresLights & electricsVisibilityBody & structureEmissions & leaks
201565.2%−5.52,979
201667.4%−6.818,933
201771.7%−6.214,507
201874.6%−6.210,945
201979.4%−4.611,715
202081.6%−4.97,968
202186.7%−1.41,547
202288.2%−0.9685

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

Renault Kadjar years to avoid, going by the MOT

Well behind2015 to 2018−5.5 to −6.8 ptsMost common failures: coil spring (fractured or broken) in 2015 and 2016; headlamp (not working on dipped beam) in 2017 and 2018. 47,364 MOTs.
Behind2019 to 2020−4.6 to −4.9 ptsMost common failures: brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) in 2019; wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) in 2020. 19,683 MOTs.
Level2021 to 2022−0.9 to −1.4 ptsMost common failure in every one of these years: wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively). 2,232 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

Renault Kadjar common faults at the MOT

8.3% of Kadjar MOTs failed on suspension, against 4.8% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 1.7% on steering, against 1.1%.

Most common failures

Headlamp: not working on dipped beam4.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.9%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.4%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.9%
Coil spring: fractured or broken3.2%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.6%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.0%
Ball joint excessively worn2.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 0.8%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.6%
Condition: has ply or cords exposed1.7%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.1%
Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.7%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.5%
KadjarSame age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.3×0.26% of Kadjar MOTs (182) against 0.05% for cars of the same age and mileage
Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.8×1.48% of Kadjar MOTs (1,026) against 0.30% for cars of the same age and mileage
Headlamp aim not tested: unable to be tested4.6×0.71% of Kadjar MOTs (495) against 0.15% for cars of the same age and mileage
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam4.5×4.02% of Kadjar MOTs (2,786) against 0.89% for cars of the same age and mileage
Ball joint excessively worn4.1×0.28% of Kadjar MOTs (196) against 0.07% for cars of the same age and mileage
Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn3.6×0.89% of Kadjar MOTs (614) against 0.24% for cars of the same age and mileage
Mileage

Behind at every mileage

Kadjars pass less often than cars of the same age and mileage at every mileage, by 3.7 to 11.1 points. The gap is widest at 120k+ miles.

First-time MOT pass rate by mileage: Renault Kadjar against cars of the same age and mileage0%25%50%75%100%8589UNDER 30K−3.7 pts778230–60K−5.0 pts697560–90K−6.4 pts627190–120K−8.6 pts5870120K+−11.1 pts
Kadjar, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Kadjar

Diesels passed 69.6% first time, 6.3 points below comparable cars; petrols passed 77.6%, 5.2 points below comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 68,557 miles at the test, against 43,999 for petrols.

FuelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)Median miles
Petrol35,16777.6%82.7%−5.243,999
Diesel34,11369.6%75.9%−6.368,557
Against rivals

Kadjar against other family SUVs

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The Kadjar ranks 16 of 17.

ModelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)
1. Honda CR-V83,79786.1%76.6%+9.5
2. Toyota RAV465,68286.4%80.2%+6.2
3. Seat Ateca46,43087.5%82.2%+5.2
4. VW Tiguan192,05984.2%79.0%+5.2
5. Skoda Kodiaq36,47386.7%82.0%+4.7
6. Skoda Karoq51,96588.4%84.3%+4.0
7. Ford Kuga237,39181.3%78.3%+3.0
8. Mazda CX-558,97880.8%78.2%+2.6
9. MG HS11,44789.2%87.3%+1.9
10. Hyundai Tucson135,29982.4%81.0%+1.3
11. Kia Sportage224,66779.1%78.7%+0.4
12. Vauxhall Grandland67,35583.2%84.2%−1.1
13. Nissan Qashqai375,64776.2%77.8%−1.5
14. Nissan X-Trail65,45674.4%76.5%−2.2
15. Peugeot 300898,93576.8%80.0%−3.2
16. Renault Kadjar68,59573.5%79.3%−5.8
17. Dacia Duster64,88569.8%80.5%−10.7

Check these before you buy a used Kadjar

What testers most often noted as advisories on Kadjars in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Questions about Kadjar reliability

Is the Renault Kadjar reliable?

At the MOT, 73.6% of 69,280 Kadjar MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 79.4% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2015 to 2018: well behind (−5.5 to −6.8 points). 2019 to 2020: behind (−4.6 to −4.9 points). 2021 to 2022: level (−0.9 to −1.4 points).

Which Renault Kadjar years should I avoid?

Going by 2025 MOT results, 2015 to 2018 and 2019 to 2020. Those cars passed first time −5.5 to −6.8 and −4.6 to −4.9 points against comparable cars.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Kadjar?

Headlamp: not working on dipped beam: 4.0% of Kadjar MOTs, against 0.9% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol Kadjar more reliable?

Petrol Kadjars passed 77.6% first time and diesels 69.6%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 5.2 points below and diesels 6.3 points below.

Is the Kadjar more reliable than the Nissan Qashqai?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Nissan Qashqai passed 76.2% first time, −1.5 points against comparable cars. The Kadjar passed 73.5%, −5.8 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the Kadjar's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a Renault Kadjar: 10 recorded model names, from "KADJAR" to trims such as "KADJAR TECHNO TCE".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.