2020 Renault Trucks Master 35 Lwb — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 545 MOT tests, the 2020 Renault Trucks Master 35 Lwb recorded a 92.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 8.1%, so the 2020 Master 35 Lwb sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.0% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 32 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 3.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 11.5% once past 90-120k — 3.9× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 9.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 49 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 21 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 9 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 8 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.3% | 7 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 16 |
| 3 | Wipers | 10 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
| 5 | Outline marker lamp | 8 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.7% | 53 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.2% | 39 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 14 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.3% | 7 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 7 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.3% | 7 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 135 | 3.0% |
| 30-60k | 173 | 5.2% |
| 60-90k | 137 | 4.4% |
| 90-120k | 52 | 11.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98 | 5.1% |
| 2022 | 93 | 2.1% |
| 2023 | 122 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 116 | 6.9% |
| 2025 | 116 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Master 35 Lwb
On a 2020 Master 35 Lwb, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (1.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Renault Trucks Master 35 Lwbs pass their MOT?
92.7% of the 545 2020 Renault Trucks Master 35 Lwb MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Renault Trucks Master 35 Lwb?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by brakes (3.9%).
Does the 2020 Master 35 Lwb get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 545 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.