2007 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
54,596 MOT tests on the 2007 Renault Megane are in this dataset, and 68.0% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.8% of the time, so this is 5.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 25.5% of all tests — 9.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, position lamp and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 6,163 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.2% versus 21.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (33.3% vs 31.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.5% 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 | 25.5% | 13,920 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.9% | 8,676 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.7% | 6,911 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.7% | 4,185 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 3,532 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 2,759 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 6,163 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 6,039 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5,977 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 5,009 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 4,202 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 3,622 |
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 | 40.4% | 22,038 |
| 2 | Other defects | 30.8% | 16,798 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.6% | 16,147 |
| 4 | Suspension | 26.9% | 14,704 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 23.4% | 12,796 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 5,984 |
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 | 613 | 21.9% |
| 30-60k | 5,832 | 25.5% |
| 60-90k | 17,202 | 31.0% |
| 90-120k | 18,196 | 33.7% |
| 120-150k | 8,747 | 34.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,822 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 36,600 | 31.4% |
| Diesel | 17,996 | 33.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,491 | 32.5% |
| 2022 | 13,432 | 31.7% |
| 2023 | 10,497 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 7,732 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 5,444 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Megane
On a 2007 Megane, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 25.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (25.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.9% 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 (12.7% 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 2007 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 54,596 2007 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.5% of tests, followed by suspension (15.9%).
Does the 2007 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 54,596 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.