2010 Renault Scenic 1.5L Diesel · ST10 VKB

A pattern of recurring front suspension wear, recurring rear brake deterioration, and two separate exhaust emissions failures define the mechanical history of this 2010 Renault Scenic, with the most recent MOT on 4 February 2026 recording a pass alongside a sub-frame corrosion advisory that warrants close physical inspection. The test record is a mix of passes and failures across four years, with three outright failures recorded in early 2023, early 2024, and early 2025. The 2023 failure combined a dangerous rear brake pad defect with a major exhaust emissions exceedance, while the 2024 failure repeated the emissions issue alongside a non-functional windscreen washer, and the 2025 failure cited a dangerously low offside front tyre. Across the same window, advisories for nearside and offside front lower suspension arm pins or bushes have appeared in 2022, 2023, and 2024, suggesting progressive wear on these components that has not yet tipped into a fail but which typically worsens with age and use. Rear brake components have likewise been flagged twice, first as thin rear pads in 2022 and then as both dangerously thin pads and worn rear brake discs in 2023, indicating that the rear braking hardware has been a consistent area of attention. At 79,911 miles over roughly sixteen years, the recorded accumulation equates to around 4,994 miles per year, which is unusually low for a vehicle of this age and type. The MOT history shows annual testing from 2022 through 2026 with no obvious multi-year gaps, so the low annual figure most likely reflects genuine light use rather than extended periods off the road. Mechanically, low annual mileage on a car of this age reduces wear on high-mileage consumables such as the engine, clutch, and gearbox internals, but it does not protect rubber and polymer components. Suspension bushes, brake seals, flexible brake hoses, and engine mount rubbers all deteriorate with calendar age regardless of mileage, which is consistent with the persistent front suspension bush advisories seen here. Standing periods can also promote corrosion in box-section and sub-frame areas, and the rear sub-frame corrosion noted in February 2026 is a known weak point on this generation of Scenic. For a prospective buyer, the rear sub-frame corrosion flagged in the most recent test should be inspected physically rather than relying on the advisory wording alone, as sub-frame rust on Renault Scenics of this era can progress from non-serious to structural within a single test cycle. A trolley jack should be used to lift the front end so the nearside and offside front lower suspension arms can be checked for movement at the pin or bush, with the wheels rocked by hand to detect free play that would indicate the advisories have now exceeded acceptable tolerance. The rear brakes warrant direct measurement of pad thickness and a visual check of the rear discs for the pitting or scoring pattern noted in 2023, since the 2022 advisory for thin rear pads was followed within twelve months by a dangerous failure on the same component. On the road, a test drive should include firm braking from moderate speed to feel for pedal judder, pulling, or any grinding suggesting binding calipers, and the car should be driven over broken surfaces and speed bumps with the windows down to listen for clonks or knocks from the front suspension that would indicate the worn bushes have deteriorated further. Additional checks tied directly to the recorded defects include a cold-start emissions observation, since the vehicle has failed on exhaust emissions twice in three years for smoke levels exceeding the manufacturer limit, which on a diesel Scenic of this era typically points toward turbo wear, injector over-fuelling, or an ageing diesel particulate filter. The windscreen should be inspected for the badly scratched area repeatedly recorded as a minor defect, with attention to whether the damage sits within the driver's primary line of sight. The offside front tyre that failed dangerously in February 2025 should be checked for uneven shoulder wear consistent with the previous edge-wear advisories, as inner-edge wear on 205/60R16 tyres on this model is commonly linked to worn suspension geometry rather than simple tyre age. Finally, a thorough under-bonnet inspection for oil misting around the cam cover and for any signs of coolant loss would be prudent given the vehicle's age, and the washer system should be confirmed as functional before any purchase is completed.