2001 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
14,050 MOT tests on the 2001 Renault Megane are in this dataset, and 72.3% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 27.9%, so the 2001 Megane sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.0% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are washers, position lamp and joints — washers alone was recorded 1,118 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.9% in the 0-30k band and 33.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.1-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.7% of the time against 27.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 2,242 |
| 2 | Visibility | 10.9% | 1,528 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 1,428 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.0% | 1,263 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 1,160 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 742 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 1,118 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 767 |
| 3 | Joints | 764 |
| 4 | Wipers | 742 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 681 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 540 |
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 | 36.9% | 5,185 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.0% | 4,076 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.4% | 3,434 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.5% | 2,874 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.5% | 2,455 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.0% | 2,115 |
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 | 258 | 20.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,772 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,076 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,994 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,636 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,291 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 13,106 | 27.7% |
| Diesel | 944 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,715 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 3,422 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 2,590 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 1,896 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 1,427 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Megane
On a 2001 Megane, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (10.9% 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.
- Brakes (10.2% 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 2001 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
72.3% of the 14,050 2001 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by visibility (10.9%).
Does the 2001 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,050 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.