2003 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Renault Megane passed 70.7% of its 14,434 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.0% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 924 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.6% in the 0-30k band and 34.5% in the 150k+ band, a 13.8-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (30.6% vs 29.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.5% in 2021 to 27.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 2,458 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.8% | 1,700 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.1% | 1,595 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.5% | 1,371 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 1,111 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.3% | 910 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 924 |
| 2 | Washers | 920 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 905 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 902 |
| 5 | Joints | 784 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 697 |
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 | 42.0% | 6,070 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.2% | 4,359 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.5% | 3,685 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.9% | 3,156 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.3% | 2,925 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 2,139 |
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 | 184 | 20.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,461 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,043 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,661 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,771 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,244 | 34.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,068 | 29.0% |
| Diesel | 2,366 | 30.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,981 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 3,580 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 2,606 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 1,886 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 1,381 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Megane
On a 2003 Megane, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.8% 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.
- Suspension (11.1% 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.
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 2003 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 14,434 2003 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by brakes (11.8%).
Does the 2003 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 0-30k band to 34.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,434 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.