Renault Laguna (1997)
1997 Renault Laguna
CarHunch analysed 31,025 real MOT records for the 1997 Renault Laguna.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 1997 Renault Laguna has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 66.1%, significantly below the UK average of 80%, which means buyers should expect roughly one in three of these cars to fail their test. While dangerous defects are present in 15.8% of vehicles analysed—a concerning figure but not extreme—the real reliability picture is reflected in an average of 2.19 failures per vehicle, suggesting persistent mechanical issues across the fleet.
At 115,490 miles average, these Lagunas show typical wear for their age, but the 5.2 advisories per vehicle indicate widespread component deterioration rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one of these cars, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the electrical and cooling systems, as recurring failures across large sample sizes tend to cluster around these areas on Renaults of this era.
The 1997 Renault Laguna has a below-average first-time pass rate (66.1% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 31,025 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 31,025 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 31,025 Renault Laguna cars.
Before you buy a 1997 Renault Laguna
Based on MOT data from 31,025 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
15.8% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (90%) | 27,938 | 66.1% | 2.22 |
| Diesel (10%) | 3,076 | 65.9% | 1.96 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 305,113 Renault Laguna vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 1997 Renault Laguna 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.
Half of all 1997 Renault Laguna vehicles fall between 90,869 and 133,028 miles.
1997 Renault Laguna — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 5% of 1997 Renault Lagunas are still active.
Numbers are declining — 73 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
* 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 1997 Renault Laguna stacks up against a rival.