2018 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,196 MOT tests, the 2018 Renault Master recorded an 88.0% pass rate. That is 4.2 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 16.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests against 4.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and outline marker lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 219 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.7% in the 0-30k band and 19.4% in the 150k+ band, a 9.7-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 12.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 481 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.4% | 186 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.2% | 136 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.4% | 100 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 74 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 67 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 219 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 134 |
| 3 | Outline marker lamp | 110 |
| 4 | Wipers | 105 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 94 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 78 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 12.3% | 517 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.1% | 422 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 252 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.6% | 193 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 187 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.9% | 163 |
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 | 1,109 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 694 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 685 | 10.2% |
| 90-120k | 642 | 10.9% |
| 120-150k | 476 | 14.3% |
| 150k+ | 584 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 869 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 810 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 809 | 11.6% |
| 2024 | 860 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 848 | 13.9% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Master
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.4% 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.
- Visibility (3.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2018 Renault Masters pass their MOT?
88.0% of the 4,196 2018 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Renault Master?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by brakes (4.4%).
Does the 2018 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,196 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.