2010 Renault Scenic 1.5L Diesel · CU59 OFA

The 2010 Renault Scenic most recently passed its MOT on 18 February 2026 with no advisories or defects recorded, which is a positive immediate indicator for any prospective buyer. However, looking at the wider pattern, this pass followed a same-day failure for a nearside front headlamp bulb being fitted incorrectly, and the prior year contained both a failed test and three advisories relating to front suspension components. The maintenance trend cannot therefore be described as cleanly stable; while the car is clearly roadworthy at present and the headlamp issues are minor rectification matters, the recurring front suspension advisories over consecutive tests suggest an area of wear that has not yet been addressed and which merits close inspection. The 2019 fractured coil spring failure is also worth noting as a historical structural defect, although the vehicle has since passed several tests without further spring-related advisories, indicating it was remedied at the time. With 117,183 miles recorded over approximately sixteen years, this Scenic is averaging around 7,324 miles per year, which sits comfortably within the typical range for a family MPV of its age and reflects reasonably consistent use rather than prolonged standing. There are no unusual gaps in the MOT record that would suggest long periods of inactivity, and there is no evidence of rapid mileage accumulation between tests. That said, a sixteen-year-old vehicle with this mileage will still have experienced significant wear on consumables and drivetrain parts, and the relatively sparse MOT history between 2020 and 2025 means several years of component ageing will not be visible in official records. Any buyer should be alert to the possibility that items such as the cambelt, clutch, or gearbox may be approaching the upper end of their service life depending on the documented service history. The headlamp issues recorded in both 2025 and 2026 are low-mechanical-significance items relating to bulb seating and lens contamination, but they do suggest that the headlamp units and their adjustment mechanisms should be physically checked at the time of viewing to confirm correct beam pattern and that the lenses are not excessively oxidised from age. The more pressing concern is the cluster of front suspension advisories from 2025, covering both nearside and offside lower suspension arm pins or bushes and the offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint. These components work together to maintain stable wheel geometry and ride control, and although they passed without excessive movement, the recorded wear indicates progressive deterioration. On a test drive, the buyer should listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed bumps, uneven or stepped potholes, and during full-lock manoeuvres, and should feel for vagueness or knocking through the steering. Uneven front tyre wear, particularly inner-edge wear, would be a strong indicator that the worn bushes or anti-roll bar joint are allowing excessive movement under load. Given the vehicle's age and mileage, even where the MOT record is clean, there are several age-related items a buyer should physically verify beyond the documented advisories. Tyres on a sixteen-year-old car can suffer sidewall perishing and cracking from natural rubber degradation even if the tread depth remains adequate, so all four tyres should be inspected for visible crazing or brittleness, and the production date codes on the sidewalls checked. Brake discs, particularly on a vehicle that may have had periods of lighter use, are prone to surface corrosion and binding calipers, so the car should be driven from cold with attention to any pulling to one side, a spongy or high pedal, or shudder under braking. The twelve-volt battery is likely original or of significant age and should be load-tested, while all fluids including brake fluid, coolant, and gearbox oil should be confirmed as recently serviced, as these degrade on a calendar basis regardless of mileage. Finally, verifying a complete service book with stamps at the correct intervals, particularly evidence of cambelt replacement which is critical on Renault engines of this era, is essential to confirm that the mechanical underpinnings have been properly maintained.