Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Renault Kangoo?

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 2008 Renault Kangoo?

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 2008 Renault Kangoo?

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 2008 Renault Kangoo vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

51% 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 2008 Renault Kangoo reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,424 vehicles, the 2008 Renault Kangoo has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Renault Kangoo?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Renault Kangoo are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41% 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 2008 Renault Kangoo?

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 Kangoo (2008)

5,424 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.8% first-time pass rate

2008 Renault Kangoo

CarHunch analysed 5,424 real MOT records for the 2008 Renault Kangoo. 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Renault Kangoo struggles with MOT reliability, passing first time in only 71.8% of cases versus the UK average of 80%—and this is a serious concern given that over half of these vehicles (51%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point. Diesel versions are particularly weak, with a 69.2% pass rate compared to 75.1% for petrol, so fuel choice matters if you're considering one.

The median mileage of 91,277 miles is fairly high for a 16-year-old van, but the average failures per vehicle at 4.94 suggest these are working vehicles that accumulate problems beyond just wear. With nearly 20 advisories per car on average, expect ongoing minor repairs and keep a close eye on the service history—check the MOT history in detail before buying, and budget for maintenance accordingly.

The 2008 Renault Kangoo has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.8% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

71.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

51%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.94

Over 16.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

91k

Middle half: 68k–118k

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 19.8 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 5,424 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 5,424 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 53.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front 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.

Other issues 30%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Brake wear 28.3%

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

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

Lighting 23.1%

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 21.5%

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,424 Renault Kangoo cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

75.2%

Petrol

2,368 vehicles

69.2%

Diesel

3,051 vehicles

Before you buy a 2008 Renault Kangoo

Based on MOT data from 5,424 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 51% 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 (56%)	3,051	69.2%	5.19
Petrol (44%)	2,368	75.2%	4.62

Colour Breakdown

Based on 148,381 Renault Kangoo vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 54.6%

81,035

Blue 15.7%

23,311

Grey 14.2%

21,035

Red 7%

10,436

Green 4.1%

6,140

Silver 1.6%

2,328

Yellow 1.3%

1,903

Black 1%

1,427

Orange 0.2%

288

Bronze 0.2%

250

Beige 0.1%

171

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Renault Kangoo 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.

91,277

typical

68,135

low mileage

117,919

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Renault Kangoo vehicles fall between 68,135 and 117,919 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 68,135 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.

✓ 68,135–117,919 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Renault Kangoos sit.

⚠ Over 159,190 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Renault Kangoo — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 52% of 2008 Renault Kangoos are still active.

2,548 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 52% 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

16.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.94

Avg failures per vehicle

19.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Renault Kangoo stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on