2013 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
50,326 MOT tests on the 2013 Renault Megane are in this dataset, and 71.7% of them passed. That is 8.9 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.7%) and lighting & signalling (14.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, joints and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 5,558 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.8% in the 0-30k band and 30.9% in the 150k+ band, a 12.1-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.0% of the time against 28.3% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.8% 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 | Suspension | 15.7% | 7,886 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 7,101 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.3% | 3,689 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 3,078 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.3% | 2,693 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.0% | 2,497 |
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 | 5,558 |
| 2 | Joints | 3,285 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 3,149 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 3,005 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2,208 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 2,139 |
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 | 31.3% | 15,737 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.6% | 14,393 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.2% | 12,672 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.0% | 5,013 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 4,297 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 2,223 |
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 | 1,498 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 9,843 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 17,118 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 13,236 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 6,067 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,532 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 39,284 | 28.3% |
| Petrol | 11,042 | 28.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,404 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 10,502 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 10,305 | 28.7% |
| 2024 | 9,917 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 9,198 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Megane
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.3% 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 2013 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 50,326 2013 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Renault Megane?
Suspension, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.1%).
Does the 2013 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,326 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.