2012 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 63,530 MOT tests, the 2012 Renault Megane recorded a 70.9% pass rate. That is 8.0 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.4%) and suspension (15.0%) 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 5,959 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.0% in the 0-30k band and 31.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.0-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.5% of the time against 29.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 28.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 9,811 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 9,542 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 5,420 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.2% | 5,216 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 3,427 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 2,974 |
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 | 5,959 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 5,942 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 3,939 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,999 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,952 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 2,805 |
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 | 32.9% | 20,918 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 18,283 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.9% | 15,789 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.6% | 7,383 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 6,954 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.2% | 3,943 |
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 | 943 | 19.0% |
| 30-60k | 9,085 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 20,998 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 18,756 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 9,179 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 4,513 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 44,124 | 29.3% |
| Petrol | 19,406 | 28.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,930 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 13,464 | 28.4% |
| 2023 | 12,896 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 12,220 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 11,020 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Megane
On a 2012 Megane, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.0% 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 (8.5% 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 2012 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
70.9% of the 63,530 2012 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by suspension (15.0%).
Does the 2012 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.0% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,530 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.