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

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 Koleos?

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 Koleos?

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 Koleos vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

45% 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 Koleos reliable?

Based on MOT data from 621 vehicles, the 2008 Renault Koleos has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.5%, 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 Koleos?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Renault Koleos are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (108.7% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (76.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (51.1% 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 Koleos?

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 Koleos (2008)

621 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.5% first-time pass rate

2008 Renault Koleos

CarHunch analysed 621 real MOT records for the 2008 Renault Koleos. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Renault Koleos falls short of the UK average with a 74.5% first-time pass rate, and nearly 45% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for any prospective buyer. With an average of 4.08 failures per vehicle and 26.9 advisories, this model is clearly prone to issues that need addressing.

At around 80,000 miles, these cars are showing their age appropriately for a 16-year-old model, but the high advisory count suggests wear accumulates steadily and maintenance costs will stack up. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the steering, suspension and braking systems—the most common sources of dangerous defects on this generation—and budget for regular servicing to avoid failing the next MOT.

The 2008 Renault Koleos has a below-average first-time pass rate (74.5% 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

74.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

44.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.08

Over 15.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

80k

Middle half: 64k–96k

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 26.9 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 621 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 621 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 108.7%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material

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

Tyre wear 51.1%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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 42.8%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · …

Suspension & steering 24.5%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

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 621 Renault Koleos cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Renault Koleos

Based on MOT data from 621 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 44.8% 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 (100%)	620	74.5%	4.08

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,995 Renault Koleos vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 27.3%

1,363

Black 26.4%

1,319

Silver 20.8%

1,041

Blue 11.1%

556

White 8.4%

418

Red 2.5%

123

Beige 2.2%

110

Purple 0.7%

Green 0.6%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Renault Koleos 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.

79,867

typical

63,586

low mileage

96,296

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Renault Koleos vehicles fall between 63,586 and 96,296 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 63,586 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.

✓ 63,586–96,296 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Renault Koleoss sit.

⚠ Over 129,999 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 Koleos — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 30% of 2008 Renault Koleoss are still active.

Numbers are declining — 170 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (30% of peak).

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

4.08

Avg failures per vehicle

26.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2009 2010 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on