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

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 Twingo?

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 Twingo?

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 Twingo vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

55% 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 Twingo reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,875 vehicles, the 2008 Renault Twingo has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.1%, 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 Twingo?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Renault Twingo are: Oil leak, but not excessive (85.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48.4% 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 Twingo?

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 Twingo (2008)

4,875 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.1% first-time pass rate

2008 Renault Twingo

CarHunch analysed 4,875 real MOT records for the 2008 Renault Twingo. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Renault Twingo falls well short of the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 72.1% versus 80% nationally—a meaningful gap that reflects real reliability concerns. More worrying still, 54.7% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above the threshold where buyers should pause and inspect carefully.

At 57,770 miles average, these Twingos are running within expected mileage for their age, yet they're accumulating an average of 5 failures and nearly 25 advisories per test, suggesting wear and maintenance issues are catching up fast. Before buying, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on brake systems and suspension—where dangerous defects typically cluster on this generation.

The 2008 Renault Twingo has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.1% 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

72.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

54.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.01

Over 17.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

57k

Middle half: 43k–71k

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 24.7 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 4,875 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 4,875 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 85.1%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Tyre wear 53.6%

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

Suspension & steering 32.7%

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage 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.

Brake wear 31.7%

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

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 4,875 Renault Twingo cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Renault Twingo

Based on MOT data from 4,875 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 54.7% 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
Petrol (100%)	4,870	72.1%	5.01

Colour Breakdown

Based on 31,339 Renault Twingo vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 23.9%

7,497

Black 22.2%

6,943

White 17.6%

5,514

Red 16.6%

5,191

Silver 10.8%

3,372

Orange 2.9%

922

Purple 1.6%

509

Grey 1.6%

508

Yellow 1.3%

423

Green 1.1%

332

Brown 0.3%

Pink 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Renault Twingo 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.

56,721

typical

43,332

low mileage

70,735

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Renault Twingo vehicles fall between 43,332 and 70,735 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 43,332 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.

✓ 43,332–70,735 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Renault Twingos sit.

⚠ Over 95,492 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 Twingo — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 47% of 2008 Renault Twingos are still active.

Numbers are declining — 2,174 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (47% 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

17.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.01

Avg failures per vehicle

24.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on