2015 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
42,529 MOT tests on the 2015 Renault Megane are in this dataset, and 76.1% of them passed. That is 8.4 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.3%) and suspension (11.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, coil spring and shock absorbers — stop lamp alone was recorded 2,636 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.4% versus 13.1%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.4% fail against 24.6% for diesel, a 6.2-point gap across 42,529 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 5,222 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.0% | 4,686 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 3,057 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.6% | 2,363 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.6% | 1,520 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,511 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 2,636 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,000 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 1,969 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 1,697 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,611 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,350 |
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 | 28.2% | 12,010 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.9% | 11,430 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.4% | 10,385 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 3,440 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 2,392 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,617 |
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 | 2,343 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 12,883 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 15,128 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 7,936 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,944 | 28.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,276 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,195 | 24.6% |
| Petrol | 4,334 | 18.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,406 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 8,519 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 8,668 | 24.7% |
| 2024 | 8,561 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 8,375 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Megane
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.0% 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 (7.2% 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 2015 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 42,529 2015 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by suspension (11.0%).
Does the 2015 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 42,529 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.