2012 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
4,436 MOT tests on the 2012 Renault Master are in this dataset, and 79.8% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 5.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests against 8.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 305 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.0% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 24.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 557 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 367 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 356 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 205 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 150 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.6% | 116 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 305 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 184 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 168 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 146 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 116 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 116 |
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 | 24.5% | 1,088 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.1% | 757 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.4% | 684 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 625 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 267 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.6% | 247 |
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 | 528 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,205 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 812 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 552 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 538 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 773 | 23.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 859 | 19.2% |
| 2022 | 866 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 864 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 913 | 20.2% |
| 2025 | 934 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Master
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% 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 (8.0% 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 2012 Renault Masters pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 4,436 2012 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Renault Master?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by brakes (8.3%).
Does the 2012 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 0-30k band to 23.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,436 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.