2002 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 19,931 MOT tests, the 2002 Renault Megane recorded a 72.7% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests against 10.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are washers, headlamp aim and position lamp — washers alone was recorded 1,299 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.2% in the 0-30k band and 31.4% in the 150k+ band, a 15.2-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.3% of the time against 27.6% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 3,398 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 2,113 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.5% | 1,892 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.2% | 1,643 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 1,543 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,062 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 1,299 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,154 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,049 |
| 4 | Joints | 993 |
| 5 | Wipers | 973 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 940 |
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 | 38.7% | 7,720 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.6% | 6,107 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 22.2% | 4,420 |
| 4 | Suspension | 22.1% | 4,399 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.9% | 3,368 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 3,245 |
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 | 297 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,516 | 22.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,545 | 26.2% |
| 90-120k | 6,323 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,461 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,764 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 18,209 | 27.3% |
| Diesel | 1,722 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,394 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 4,888 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 3,746 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 2,820 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 2,083 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Megane
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Visibility (9.5% 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 2002 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
72.7% of the 19,931 2002 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by brakes (10.6%).
Does the 2002 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,931 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.