2014 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 49,177 MOT tests, the 2014 Renault Megane recorded a 71.9% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 17.4% of the time, so this is 10.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.4%) and lighting & signalling (13.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, coil spring and stop lamp — joints alone was recorded 4,257 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.1% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (28.4% vs 26.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.4% | 7,064 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 6,497 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.7% | 4,282 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 3,705 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 2,635 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.8% | 2,355 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 4,257 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,759 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 3,255 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 2,687 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 2,641 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 1,820 |
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 | 30.6% | 15,024 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.7% | 13,602 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.2% | 13,357 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.7% | 4,266 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 3,871 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 2,220 |
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 | 1,654 | 18.0% |
| 30-60k | 11,471 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 18,008 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 11,362 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 4,599 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,059 | 31.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 43,281 | 28.4% |
| Petrol | 5,896 | 26.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,928 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 10,105 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 9,995 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 9,803 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 9,346 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Megane
On a 2014 Megane, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.4% 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 (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% 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 2014 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 49,177 2014 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Renault Megane?
Suspension, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.2%).
Does the 2014 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.0% in the 0-30k band to 31.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 49,177 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.