2011 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
4,582 MOT tests on the 2011 Renault Master are in this dataset, and 75.4% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (26.7% fail rate), the 2011 Master comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.7% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and rbt (sp) — joints alone was recorded 308 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.6% versus 19.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 718 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.8% | 541 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 333 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 300 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 220 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.2% | 147 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 308 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 282 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 229 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 201 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 183 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 183 |
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 | 31.1% | 1,424 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.2% | 1,016 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.4% | 799 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 709 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 315 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.8% | 313 |
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 | 298 | 19.8% |
| 30-60k | 783 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 779 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 637 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 637 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,439 | 26.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 948 | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 926 | 23.1% |
| 2023 | 896 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 923 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 889 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Master
On a 2011 Master, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2011 Renault Masters pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 4,582 2011 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Renault Master?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by brakes (11.8%).
Does the 2011 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.8% in the 0-30k band to 26.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,582 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.