Renault Scenic
Registered from 2000 to 2025.
About this model
The Renault Scénic, also spelled without the acute accent as Scenic, especially in languages other than French, is a car which was produced by French car manufacturer Renault, the first to be labelled as a small multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in Europe. The first generation was based on the chassis of the Mégane, a small family car. It became the 1997 European Car of the Year on its launch in November 1996. In May 2022 Renault announced it was discontinuing the standard Scénic with the Grand Scénic following shortly after. It was relaunched in 2024 as a fully electric vehicle called the Renault Scénic E-Tech which is the production version of the Renault Scénic Vision concept unveiled in 2022, with the production version to be unveiled at the 2023 Munich Motor Show on September 4.
From the Wikipedia article Renault Scénic, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2010 1.5 diesel. 1,829 of 6,065 tests failed, 30%.
Better than 9% of 2010 cars. The typical one fails 24%, across 955 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 53% | 976 |
| Lights and electrics | 41% | 743 |
| Brakes | 28% | 515 |
| Steering | 25% | 453 |
| Tyres and wheels | 16% | 298 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 13% | 229 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Where it stands out against its peers
- Steering: failed more often than 93% of 2010 cars — 25% of its 1,829 failed tests, where an ordinary 2010 car has 5%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 53% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Brakes — 28% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Steering — 25% of its failures
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Tyres and wheels — 16% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Exhaust and emissions — 13% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 41% of its failures
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
When it starts failing
At 180–200k miles this one fails 40% of its inspections, against the 28% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 20% | 15% | 75 | |
| 40–60k miles | 25% | 19% | 359 | |
| 60–80k miles | 27% | 22% | 1,027 | |
| 80–100k miles | 30% | 25% | 1,571 | |
| 100–120k miles | 31% | 27% | 1,446 | |
| 120–140k miles | 33% | 28% | 901 | |
| 140–160k miles | 33% | 28% | 438 | |
| 160–180k miles | 29% | 28% | 143 | |
| 180–200k miles | 40% | 28% | 50 |
6,010 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 80k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.3 petrol · 1505 kg · 2734 mm wheelbase · 6.5 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 1.5 diesel · 108 hp · 1568 kg · 2766 mm wheelbase · 3.9 L/100km (NEDC) · 85 Wh/km |
| 2017 | 1.5 diesel · 108 hp · 1569 kg · 2765 mm wheelbase · 3.9 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 1.5 diesel · 108 hp · 1515 kg · 2749 mm wheelbase · 4.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/0006/16
The drive rotor of the vacuum pump could break, leading to the immediate stop of the vacuum pump and consequent loss of braking assistance and loss of engine power.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0556/19
Capacitors may crack under mechanical stress of the electronic board and overheat. This could lead to a malfunction of the engine cooling fan assembly, increasing the risk of a fire.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0622/18
The LED module for monitoring and managing the actuation of the rear lights of the trailer could be damaged. Total failure of the rear lights of the trailer could occur.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1343/16
The rear screws on the front seat runners were not tightened. In the event of an accident or sudden braking, the front seats may tip forwards owing to the poor attachment or breakage of the seat runner's fittings.
Recall of the product from end users
OR/00145/25
The position sensor of the parking brake actuator is at the wrong angle, causing the stopping pin to be incorrectly placed in the ‘P lock’ position and resulting in the parking brake not properly engaging when the P button is pressed on the transmission selector, when the engine is switched off, when the driver’s safety-belt is released or when the driver door is opened. This increases the risk of accidents and injuries, although the Assisted Parking Brake (APB) remains functional and allows the vehicle to be immobilised. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/03262/25
The position sensor of the parking brake actuator is at the wrong angle, causing the stopping pin to be incorrectly placed in the ‘P lock’ position and resulting in the parking brake not properly engaging when the P button is pressed on the transmission selector, when the engine is switched off, when the driver’s safety-belt is released or when the driver door is opened. This increases the risk of accidents and injuries, although the Assisted Parking Brake (APB) remains functional and allows the vehicle to be immobilised. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users