1998 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Renault Megane passed 72.0% of its 786 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 27.1%, so the 1998 Megane sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.0%) and lighting & signalling (9.9%) 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 100 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.7% in the 0-30k band and 24.3% in the 150k+ band, a 7.7-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.0% in 2021 to 24.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.0% | 94 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 78 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.5% | 75 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 73 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.3% | 65 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 54 |
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 | 100 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 54 |
| 3 | Washers | 44 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 36 |
| 5 | Wipers | 33 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 32 |
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 | 30.3% | 238 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.9% | 204 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.9% | 180 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.4% | 160 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.9% | 133 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.8% | 124 |
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 | 48 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 233 | 24.0% |
| 60-90k | 263 | 30.0% |
| 90-120k | 152 | 33.6% |
| 120-150k | 51 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 756 | 27.9% |
| Diesel | 30 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 261 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 198 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 150 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 104 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 73 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Megane
On a 1998 Megane, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.5% 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.
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 1998 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
72.0% of the 786 1998 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Renault Megane?
Suspension, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.9%).
Does the 1998 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 786 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.