Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1992 Renault Espace?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1992 Renault Espace?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1992 Renault Espace?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1992 Renault Espace reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,145 vehicles, the 1992 Renault Espace has a first-time MOT pass rate of 62.9%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1992 Renault Espace?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1992 Renault Espace are: Oil leak (41.3% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (28.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (23.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1992 Renault Espace?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Renault Espace (1992)

2,145 real MOT outcomes analysed • 62.9% first-time pass rate

1992 Renault Espace

CarHunch analysed 2,145 real MOT records for the 1992 Renault Espace. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1992 Renault Espace has a first-time MOT pass rate of 62.9%, which is notably below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars are ageing harder than most. With 16.7% of vehicles ever recorded with dangerous defects, there's a material safety concern worth investigating on any example you inspect.

At around 133,000 miles median, these Espaces are well-used but still running. The average 1.57 failures per test tells you that when they do fail, structural or mechanical issues are present—not just minor niggles—so factor in £500–1,000 for remedial work before purchase. Get a pre-buy inspection that specifically checks suspension, brakes, and bodywork corrosion, since advisories averaging 3.3 per vehicle suggest cumulative wear is the real story here.

The 1992 Renault Espace has a below-average first-time pass rate (62.9% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

62.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

16.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.57

Over 4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

133k

Middle half: 111k–155k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,145 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,145 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 41.3%

Oil leak · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Brake wear 28.8%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Brake load sensing valve linkage seized

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 23.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Exhaust & emissions 14.6%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Wipers & washers 14.1%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Suspension & steering 12%

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split · Offside Steering rack gaiter split

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1992.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,145 Renault Espace cars.

Before you buy a 1992 Renault Espace

Based on MOT data from 2,145 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	2,123	62.8%	1.57

Colour Breakdown

Based on 52,774 Renault Espace vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 31.4%

16,580

Red 16.4%

8,635

Silver 15%

7,899

Green 14.6%

7,707

Grey 13.9%

7,356

White 2.9%

1,525

Black 2.5%

1,329

Beige 1.8%

933

Purple 1.3%

691

Maroon 0.1%

Gold 0.1%

Brown 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1992 Renault Espace vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

132,826

typical

111,315

low mileage

155,371

high mileage

Half of all 1992 Renault Espace vehicles fall between 111,315 and 155,371 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 111,315 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 111,315–155,371 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1992 Renault Espaces sit.

⚠ Over 209,750 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1992 Renault Espace — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 29% of 1992 Renault Espaces are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2017 (29% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2017.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.57

Avg failures per vehicle

3.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Renault Espace: All Espace years → Which year to buy? →

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 1992 Renault Espace stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on