2020 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 948 MOT tests, the 2020 Renault Master recorded an 86.0% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (12.7% fail rate), the 2020 Master comes out 1.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.9% of all tests — 8.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, outline marker lamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 84 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.9% in the 0-30k band and 17.1% in the 150k+ band, a 8.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 15.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 132 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.5% | 52 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.4% | 42 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 30 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.2% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 19 |
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 | 84 |
| 2 | Outline marker lamp | 37 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 32 |
| 4 | Wipers | 30 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 29 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 22 |
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 | 15.7% | 149 |
| 2 | Tyres | 12.3% | 117 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 55 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.0% | 38 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 32 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.1% | 29 |
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 | 271 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 189 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 185 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 145 | 15.2% |
| 120-150k | 117 | 24.8% |
| 150k+ | 41 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 117 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 137 | 10.9% |
| 2023 | 214 | 13.6% |
| 2024 | 240 | 16.3% |
| 2025 | 240 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Master
On a 2020 Master, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.5% 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.
- Suspension (4.4% 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 2020 Renault Masters pass their MOT?
86.0% of the 948 2020 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Renault Master?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.5%).
Does the 2020 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 17.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 948 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.