2009 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 68,382 MOT tests, the 2009 Renault Megane recorded a 68.6% pass rate. That is 6.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.0%) and suspension (17.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, track rod end and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 6,819 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.5% versus 14.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 30.9% of the time against 32.0% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 12,967 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.5% | 12,002 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.9% | 7,440 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.5% | 5,141 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 3,887 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 3,880 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 6,819 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 5,383 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 4,767 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 4,294 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 3,845 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 3,647 |
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% | 26,516 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.5% | 20,145 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.9% | 19,767 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 11,189 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.2% | 9,692 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 4,543 |
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 | 745 | 14.9% |
| 30-60k | 6,297 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 20,099 | 30.9% |
| 90-120k | 22,495 | 32.7% |
| 120-150k | 12,540 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 6,149 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 39,378 | 30.9% |
| Diesel | 29,004 | 32.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,183 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 15,551 | 30.9% |
| 2023 | 14,074 | 31.7% |
| 2024 | 11,971 | 31.7% |
| 2025 | 9,603 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Megane
On a 2009 Megane, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.5% 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 (10.9% 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 2009 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 68,382 2009 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by suspension (17.5%).
Does the 2009 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 68,382 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.