2006 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Renault Megane passed 67.3% of its 35,608 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.4 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.7% of tests against 14.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 4,212 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.9% in the 0-30k band and 35.6% in the 150k+ band, a 13.7-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 32.2% fail against 33.8% for diesel, a 1.5-point gap across 35,608 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.3% in 2021 to 30.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 25.7% | 9,150 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.8% | 5,281 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 4,793 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.6% | 2,694 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 2,345 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 2,012 |
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 | 4,212 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 3,944 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 3,807 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 3,050 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 2,498 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,111 |
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 | 42.8% | 15,247 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.4% | 10,828 |
| 3 | Other defects | 30.2% | 10,754 |
| 4 | Suspension | 26.5% | 9,432 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 24.3% | 8,651 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 3,799 |
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 | 462 | 21.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,912 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 10,787 | 31.5% |
| 90-120k | 11,552 | 34.4% |
| 120-150k | 5,854 | 35.0% |
| 150k+ | 2,837 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 23,968 | 32.2% |
| Diesel | 11,640 | 33.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,334 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 8,994 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 6,628 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 4,547 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 3,105 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Megane
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 25.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (25.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.8% 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.
- Brakes (13.5% 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 2006 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
67.3% of the 35,608 2006 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.7% of tests, followed by suspension (14.8%).
Does the 2006 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 0-30k band to 35.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,608 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.