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Large family car · 1996–2019 cars

Renault Laguna reliability

The Renault Laguna fails 45.8% of first MOT tests, 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 38,691 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Below averageReliability score 41/100#28 of 29 large family cars

Checking a Renault Laguna before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
45.8%
first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
10% more
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
38,691
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings
10,200
typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Renault Laguna ages

Each point is the share of Renault Lagunas of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

0%15%30%45%60%1012141618202224Age at MOT (years)
Renault LagunaAll cars
Renault Laguna first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)Renault LagunaAll cars
1043.1%31.8%
1141.8%34.6%
1245%37.3%
1345.2%39.5%
1447.2%41.1%
1546.3%42.3%
1647.5%42.9%
1750.9%43.4%
1848.2%43.5%
1948.2%43.4%
2049.6%42.8%
2145.7%41.4%
2240.3%40.6%
2335.4%38.9%
2426.6%37.1%

By year

The best and worst Renault Laguna years

2008 cars come out best and 2003 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Renault Laguna MOT results by year of first registration
First registeredTestsFail rateAgainst same-age carsTypical mileage
201298042.8%15% more fails118,369
2011 Laguna5,47441.4%7% more fails115,475
2010 Laguna6,46945.8%12% more fails115,686
2009 Laguna4,69046.5%11% more fails115,092
2008 Laguna7,98745.8%6% more fails120,729
2007 Laguna4,07249.6%13% more fails115,724
2006 Laguna2,12148.9%14% more fails102,950
2005 Laguna1,73549.7%15% more fails98,872
2004 Laguna1,74447.6%12% more fails93,668
2003 Laguna1,22452.1%23% more fails95,400
200274644.1%6% more fails94,727
200126939.8%3% more fails82,503
200046839.7%1% more fails98,918
199943727.5%28% fewer fails105,384

Common problems

What fails most on a Renault Laguna

Its weak spot is suspension: 33% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

  • Suspension22.1%33% above avg
  • Lights and electrics21.8%10% above avg
  • Brakes14.2%24% above avg
  • Body, chassis and structure8%12% above avg
  • Tyres7.7%1% above avg
  • Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.6%15% below avg
  • Steering3.9%8% above avg
  • Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.4%44% below avg
  • Seat belts and airbags1.3%35% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

  1. 1

    Coil spring fractured or broken 9.16% of tests

    A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.

  2. 2

    Position lamp not working 7.08% of tests

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  3. 3

    CV joint boot split or insecure 5.4% of tests

    A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.

  4. 4

    Suspension ball joint excessively worn 2.87% of tests

    A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.

  5. 5

    Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.74% of tests

    Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.

  6. 6

    Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 2.64% of tests

    Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.

  7. 7

    Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.6% of tests

    Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

  8. 8

    Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 2.57% of tests

    A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Renault Laguna's MOT certificate most often.

  • Tyre worn close to legal limit17.37%
  • Brake disc pitted or scored16.13%
  • Brake pipes corroded and greasy10.29%
  • Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear9.06%
  • Brake pads wearing thin8.43%
  • Tyre slightly damaged or cracking8.22%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Renault Laguna

  1. 1

    Coil spring fractured or broken

    A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.

  2. 2

    Position lamp not working

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  3. 3

    CV joint boot split or insecure

    A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.

  4. 4

    Suspension ball joint excessively worn

    A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.

  5. 5

    Every MOT since new

    Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.

  6. 6

    The mileage record

    A typical Renault Laguna covers about 10,200 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.

  7. 7

    Finance, stolen and write-off

    The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

  • Diesel75.2%
  • Petrol24.8%
  • LPG0%
  • Electric0%

Most common colours

Grey, Silver, Black, Blue, Red

Average engine size: 1.9 litres.

Compare

How the Renault Laguna compares with its rivals

Renault Laguna against similar models
ModelFail rateAgainst same-age cars
Volkswagen CC25.1%17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Saab 9-535.9%17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Optima19.8%9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 50828.2%4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Rover 7542.5%about average for its age
Peugeot 40746.1%6% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Laguna45.8%10% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Renault models.

Questions

Renault Laguna questions, answered

Is the Renault Laguna reliable?

On MOT results, the Renault Laguna is below average: it fails 45.8% of first MOT tests, 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 28 of 29 large family car models in our index.

What fails most on a Renault Laguna MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Renault Laguna are coil spring fractured or broken (9.16% of tests), position lamp not working (7.08% of tests), cv joint boot split or insecure (5.4% of tests). By area, suspension fails 22.1% of its tests.

Which Renault Laguna year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2008 cars do best (6% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2003 cars do worst (23% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Renault Laguna do a year?

A typical Renault Laguna covers about 10,200 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Renault Laguna before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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