2002 Renault Avantime — MOT failures & pass rate
741 MOT tests on the 2002 Renault Avantime are in this dataset, and 73.4% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.4%) and lighting & signalling (14.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), stop lamp and washers — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 85 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.6% in the 30-60k band and 28.8% in the 150k+ band, a 9.2-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.3% in 2021 to 23.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.4% | 114 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 105 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 68 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.6% | 56 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 54 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.9% | 29 |
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) | 85 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 41 |
| 3 | Washers | 38 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 37 |
| 5 | Joints | 36 |
| 6 | Wipers | 33 |
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 | 36.3% | 269 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.3% | 232 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.6% | 153 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.0% | 148 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.5% | 122 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 87 |
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 | 56 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 207 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 260 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 158 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 174 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 152 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 144 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 139 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 132 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Avantime
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.4% 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 (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.2% 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
How many 2002 Renault Avantimes pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 741 2002 Renault Avantime MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Renault Avantime?
Brakes, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.2%).
Does the 2002 Avantime get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.6% in the 30-60k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 741 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.