1997 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
378 MOT tests on the 1997 Renault Megane are in this dataset, and 71.4% of them passed. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.1%) and suspension (10.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and washers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1997 Megane fails 29.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 27.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.4 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 42 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.8% | 41 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 40 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 34 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 27 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 26 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 26 |
| 3 | Washers | 24 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 23 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 17 |
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 | 27.5% | 104 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.3% | 103 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.8% | 86 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.6% | 74 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.0% | 49 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.4% | 43 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 100 | 29.0% |
| 60-90k | 148 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 76 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | 29.5% |
| 2022 | 87 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 72 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 55 | 25.4% |
| 2025 | 52 | 34.6% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Megane
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.8% 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.
- Brakes (10.6% 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.
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 1997 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 378 1997 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by suspension (10.8%).
Does the 1997 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.0% in the 30-60k band to 27.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 378 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.