2008 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
47,553 MOT tests on the 2008 Renault Megane are in this dataset, and 68.7% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.1% of the time, so this is 5.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.5% of tests against 15.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 5,128 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.0% in the 0-30k band and 36.0% in the 150k+ band, a 20.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 30.6% fail against 32.5% for diesel, a 2.0-point gap across 47,553 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.8% 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 | 24.5% | 11,651 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.6% | 7,410 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 4,858 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.5% | 3,580 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 2,948 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 2,292 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 5,128 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 4,657 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 4,310 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,987 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 3,696 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,893 |
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 | 38.8% | 18,435 |
| 2 | Other defects | 29.7% | 14,111 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.4% | 13,989 |
| 4 | Suspension | 25.1% | 11,927 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 23.3% | 11,056 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 4,378 |
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 | 564 | 16.0% |
| 30-60k | 5,395 | 24.9% |
| 60-90k | 14,953 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 14,758 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 8,064 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 3,738 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 29,862 | 30.6% |
| Diesel | 17,691 | 32.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,018 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 11,515 | 31.2% |
| 2023 | 9,414 | 31.2% |
| 2024 | 7,257 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 5,349 | 31.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Megane
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 24.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (24.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.6% 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 (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 2008 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 47,553 2008 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.5% of tests, followed by suspension (15.6%).
Does the 2008 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 0-30k band to 36.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 47,553 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.