2001 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Renault Master passed 65.7% of its 2,326 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.5 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.8%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (20.5%) and lighting & signalling (18.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and rbt (sp) — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 387 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 25.4% in the 30-60k band and 35.5% in the 150k+ band, a 10.0-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.8% in 2021 to 33.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.5% | 476 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 439 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.1% | 374 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 248 |
| 5 | Visibility | 10.4% | 243 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.7% | 156 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 387 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 262 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 238 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 183 |
| 5 | Washers | 180 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 151 |
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 | 39.0% | 906 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.4% | 799 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.5% | 569 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.5% | 477 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.6% | 456 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 370 |
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 | 169 | 25.4% |
| 60-90k | 441 | 32.0% |
| 90-120k | 471 | 34.8% |
| 120-150k | 431 | 36.9% |
| 150k+ | 778 | 35.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 559 | 35.8% |
| 2022 | 473 | 31.7% |
| 2023 | 464 | 34.7% |
| 2024 | 447 | 35.4% |
| 2025 | 383 | 33.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Master
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 20.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (20.5% 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 (18.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.1% 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 2001 Renault Masters pass their MOT?
65.7% of the 2,326 2001 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Renault Master?
Brakes, recorded in 20.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.9%).
Does the 2001 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.4% in the 30-60k band to 35.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,326 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.