2021 Renault Trucks Master 35 Lwb — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Renault Trucks Master 35 Lwb passed 89.5% of its 827 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (7.4% fail rate), the 2021 Master 35 Lwb comes out 3.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests against 4.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, outline marker lamp and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 68 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.7% versus 4.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 12.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 97 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.2% | 35 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.1% | 17 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 12 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 11 |
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 | 68 |
| 2 | Outline marker lamp | 41 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 25 |
| 4 | Wipers | 13 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 12 |
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 | 12.4% | 103 |
| 2 | Tyres | 12.2% | 101 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 36 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 26 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 25 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.9% | 24 |
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 | 185 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 209 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 227 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 127 | 13.4% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 13.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 181 | 5.0% |
| 2023 | 182 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 221 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 230 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Master 35 Lwb
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.2% 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.
- Tyres (2.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2021 Renault Trucks Master 35 Lwbs pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 827 2021 Renault Trucks Master 35 Lwb MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Renault Trucks Master 35 Lwb?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by brakes (4.2%).
Does the 2021 Master 35 Lwb get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 827 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.