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.
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.
| Age at MOT (years) | Renault Laguna | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 43.1% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 41.8% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 45% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 45.2% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 47.2% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 46.3% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 47.5% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 50.9% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 48.2% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 48.2% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 49.6% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 45.7% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 40.3% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 35.4% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 26.6% | 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.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 980 | 42.8% | 15% more fails | 118,369 |
| 2011 Laguna | 5,474 | 41.4% | 7% more fails | 115,475 |
| 2010 Laguna | 6,469 | 45.8% | 12% more fails | 115,686 |
| 2009 Laguna | 4,690 | 46.5% | 11% more fails | 115,092 |
| 2008 Laguna | 7,987 | 45.8% | 6% more fails | 120,729 |
| 2007 Laguna | 4,072 | 49.6% | 13% more fails | 115,724 |
| 2006 Laguna | 2,121 | 48.9% | 14% more fails | 102,950 |
| 2005 Laguna | 1,735 | 49.7% | 15% more fails | 98,872 |
| 2004 Laguna | 1,744 | 47.6% | 12% more fails | 93,668 |
| 2003 Laguna | 1,224 | 52.1% | 23% more fails | 95,400 |
| 2002 | 746 | 44.1% | 6% more fails | 94,727 |
| 2001 | 269 | 39.8% | 3% more fails | 82,503 |
| 2000 | 468 | 39.7% | 1% more fails | 98,918 |
| 1999 | 437 | 27.5% | 28% fewer fails | 105,384 |
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 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
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
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
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen CC | 25.1% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Saab 9-5 | 35.9% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Kia Optima | 19.8% | 9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 508 | 28.2% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover 75 | 42.5% | about average for its age |
| Peugeot 407 | 46.1% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Laguna | 45.8% | 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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