2000 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Renault Megane passed 71.7% of its 6,466 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests against 11.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are washers, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — washers alone was recorded 477 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.1% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.3% in 2021 to 25.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 1,062 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 710 |
| 3 | Visibility | 10.6% | 686 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.5% | 613 |
| 5 | Brakes | 8.3% | 536 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 367 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 477 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 387 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 340 |
| 4 | Joints | 339 |
| 5 | Wipers | 332 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 324 |
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 | 33.1% | 2,140 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.0% | 1,943 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.3% | 1,762 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.4% | 1,387 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.3% | 1,246 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.8% | 1,153 |
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 | 133 | 23.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,065 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,832 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,684 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,029 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 713 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,171 | 28.4% |
| Diesel | 295 | 26.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,160 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 1,632 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 1,174 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 868 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 632 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Megane
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.0% 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+.
- Visibility (10.6% 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 2000 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 6,466 2000 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.0%).
Does the 2000 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,466 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.