Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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.

How many 2011 Renault Espace vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

56% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2011 Renault Espace reliable?

Based on MOT data from 114 vehicles, the 2011 Renault Espace has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 Renault Espace?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 Renault Espace are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (68.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (61.3% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (50.3% 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 2011 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.

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Renault Espace (2011)

114 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.6% first-time pass rate

2011 Renault Espace

CarHunch analysed 114 real MOT records for the 2011 Renault Espace. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 Compare Models

The 2011 Renault Espace struggles at the MOT, with a first-time pass rate of just 71.6% against the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests more owners face unexpected repair bills. More concerning, 56.1% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above normal and a genuine safety flag for any prospective buyer.

These Espaces are running around 89,000 miles on average, which is reasonable for their age, but owners should expect substantial work: an average of 4.45 failures and 22.5 advisories per test tells you the MPV is showing its age and complexity. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the braking system, suspension, and emissions equipment, as these areas are clearly causing repeated MOT trouble on this generation.

We have limited data for the 2011 Renault Espace — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

71.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

56.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.45

Over 15.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

87k

Middle half: 68k–105k

For context

These stats describe 114 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 114 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 68.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Brake wear 50.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Other issues 31.7%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak, but not excessive · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 114 Renault Espace cars.

Before you buy a 2011 Renault Espace

Based on MOT data from 114 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 56.1% 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
Diesel (99%)	113	71.8%	4.48

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 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.

86,652

typical

68,413

low mileage

105,197

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Renault Espace vehicles fall between 68,413 and 105,197 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 68,413 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.

✓ 68,413–105,197 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Renault Espaces sit.

⚠ Over 142,015 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Renault Espace — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 66% of 2011 Renault Espaces are still active.

71 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 66% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

15.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.45

Avg failures per vehicle

22.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 2011 Renault Espace stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on