Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Renault Scenic?

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 2012 Renault Scenic?

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 2012 Renault Scenic?

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 2012 Renault Scenic 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 2012 Renault Scenic reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,205 vehicles, the 2012 Renault Scenic has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Renault Scenic?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Renault Scenic are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (58.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (57.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (56.3% 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 2012 Renault Scenic?

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 Scenic (2012)

3,205 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.7% first-time pass rate

2012 Renault Scenic

CarHunch analysed 3,205 real MOT records for the 2012 Renault Scenic. 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 2012 Renault Scenic falls slightly short of the UK average with a 76.7% first-time pass rate, and there's a real concern here: 45.3% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above what you'd want to see. Diesel versions perform marginally better at 77.6% pass rate versus petrol at 73.5%, suggesting the petrol engines are less robust.

At 63,000 miles median mileage for a 12-year-old car, these are reasonably well-used but not excessively so, and the average of 3.37 failures per test suggests structural reliability issues beyond just wear-and-tear items—the high advisory count of 18.7 per vehicle points to ongoing minor defects accumulating. If you're considering one, budget for regular remedial work and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection with particular attention to braking and suspension components, where dangerous defects tend to cluster on this model.

The 2012 Renault Scenic has a decent first-time pass rate (76.7%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

76.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

45.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.37

Over 13.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

63k

Middle half: 48k–79k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 18.7 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 3,205 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,205 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 58.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear 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.

Tyre wear 57.6%

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.

Suspension & steering 30.8%

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play

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

Other issues 26%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,205 Renault Scenic cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 4.1 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

73.5%

Petrol

664 vehicles

77.6%

Diesel

2,541 vehicles

Before you buy a 2012 Renault Scenic

Based on MOT data from 3,205 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 45.3% 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 (79%)	2,541	77.6%	3.19
Petrol (21%)	664	73.5%	4.06

Colour Breakdown

Based on 171,324 Renault Scenic vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 23.4%

40,034

Blue 23.3%

39,954

Red 13.2%

22,658

Grey 10.7%

18,300

Black 9.5%

16,279

Green 6.1%

10,524

Beige 6%

10,339

Gold 4%

6,907

Bronze 1.6%

2,685

White 1.1%

1,852

Yellow 0.7%

1,283

Maroon 0.3%

509

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Renault Scenic 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.

63,068

typical

47,824

low mileage

79,231

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Renault Scenic vehicles fall between 47,824 and 79,231 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 47,824 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.

✓ 47,824–79,231 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Renault Scenics sit.

⚠ Over 106,961 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Renault Scenic — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Renault Scenics are still being driven.

2,348 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 77% 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

13.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.37

Avg failures per vehicle

18.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Renault Scenic stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing