Renault Avantime MOT pass rate & common failures
1,083 MOT tests on the Renault Avantime (2002–2017) give it a 73.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 27.4%, so the Avantime sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.3%) and lighting & signalling (13.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), washers and stop lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 120 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.7% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.4% in 2021 to 25.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Avantime model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 741 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 315 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.3% | 166 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 149 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 101 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.3% | 79 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 74 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.2% | 35 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.1% | 34 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 120 |
| 2 | Washers | 54 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 54 |
| 4 | Joints | 52 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 50 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 49 |
| 7 | Wipers | 47 |
| 8 | Individual direction indicators | 46 |
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 | 34.6% | 375 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.0% | 336 |
| 3 | Other defects | 19.3% | 209 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.0% | 195 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.8% | 193 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 129 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 77 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 288 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 363 | 24.8% |
| 120-150k | 242 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 101 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 255 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 225 | 28.4% |
| 2023 | 208 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 203 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 192 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a Renault Avantime
- Brakes (15.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Renault Avantime?
73.2% of the 1,083 Renault Avantime MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.8% fail rate, across model years 2002–2017.
What does the Renault Avantime most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 15.3% of tests, then lighting & signalling (13.8%).
How much does mileage affect Avantime MOT results?
Fail rates run at 16.9% for cars in the 30-60k band and 30.7% for 150k+, a 13.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,083 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.