2005 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
4,957 MOT tests on the 2005 Renault Master are in this dataset, and 72.6% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (29.8% fail rate), the 2005 Master comes out 2.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.4%) and brakes (14.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), position lamp and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 446 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.8% in the 0-30k band and 30.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.3-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 26.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 814 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 722 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 457 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.2% | 308 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 299 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 211 |
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) | 446 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 277 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 275 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 258 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 230 |
| 6 | Wipers | 216 |
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 | 34.0% | 1,684 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.9% | 1,483 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 846 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.2% | 801 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.7% | 680 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.5% | 621 |
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 | 135 | 17.8% |
| 30-60k | 638 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 786 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 907 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 785 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,704 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,098 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 1,044 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 977 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 967 | 28.5% |
| 2025 | 871 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Master
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.6% 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 (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 2005 Renault Masters pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 4,957 2005 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Renault Master?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by brakes (14.6%).
Does the 2005 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,957 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.