Renault Master MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 41 model years and 93,760 tests, the Renault Master passes its MOT 76.7% of the time. Vans of a similar age fail 25.8% of the time, so this is 2.5pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
Best and worst Master years
Ranked across Master years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2018 cars pass 88.0% of the time while 2001 cars manage 65.7%, a 22.3-point spread.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.1%) and brakes (12.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 5,805 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.6% in the 0-30k band and 27.9% in the 150k+ band, a 14.4-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Master model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 50 | 64.0% | 36.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 50 | 62.0% | 38.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 52 | 61.5% | 38.5% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1993 | 34 | 67.7% | 32.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 35 | 57.1% | 42.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 114 | 64.9% | 35.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 106 | 63.2% | 36.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 52 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1998 | 642 | 63.4% | 36.6% | Suspension |
| 1999 | 884 | 63.5% | 36.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 1,625 | 66.1% | 33.9% | Brakes |
| 2001 | 2,326 | 65.7% | 34.3% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 2,710 | 67.7% | 32.3% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 3,096 | 69.1% | 30.9% | Brakes |
| 2004 | 4,075 | 69.1% | 30.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 4,957 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 7,905 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 9,112 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 7,400 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 4,940 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 4,814 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 4,582 | 75.4% | 24.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 4,436 | 79.8% | 20.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 3,994 | 82.1% | 17.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 3,707 | 82.4% | 17.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 4,703 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 4,543 | 84.5% | 15.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 3,637 | 87.1% | 12.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 4,196 | 88.0% | 12.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 3,621 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 948 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 233 | 88.4% | 11.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 76 | 92.1% | 7.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2023 | 61 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 13,210 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 11,349 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 6,522 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 5,049 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 4,950 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.9% | 2,757 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.8% | 2,634 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.9% | 1,812 |
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) | 5,805 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 4,397 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,272 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 4,257 |
| 5 | Wipers | 3,415 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 3,254 |
| 7 | Joints | 2,668 |
| 8 | Stop lamp | 2,554 |
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 | 27.4% | 25,647 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.6% | 18,336 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.0% | 15,013 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 12,094 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 8,298 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 8,104 |
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 | 9,173 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 17,784 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 15,644 | 22.2% |
| 90-120k | 13,738 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 12,645 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 24,159 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 93,597 | 23.3% |
| Petrol | 152 | 34.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,992 | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 19,184 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 18,764 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 18,865 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 17,955 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a Renault Master
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.1% 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.
- Suspension (7.0% 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 Master?
76.7% of the 93,760 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 23.3% fail rate, across model years 1984–2024.
What does the Renault Master most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, then brakes (12.1%).
Which Master years are best and worst for MOT results?
2018 has the best pass rate at 88.0% and 2001 the weakest at 65.7%, from 4,196 and 2,326 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Master MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.9% for 150k+, a 14.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 93,760 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.