2016 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Renault Megane passed 81.6% of its 31,602 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), the 2016 Megane comes out 4.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.4%) and suspension (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 1,365 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.9% versus 10.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.7pp more often than petrol ones (19.3% vs 14.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 2,970 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.0% | 2,218 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.1% | 1,928 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.6% | 1,456 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,051 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.7% | 523 |
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 | 1,365 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,028 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 923 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 828 |
| 5 | Wipers | 775 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 702 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.5% | 8,686 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.8% | 7,194 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.8% | 4,996 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.7% | 2,432 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 1,201 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 982 |
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 | 4,320 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 13,355 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 8,815 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,288 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,192 | 24.8% |
| 150k+ | 626 | 24.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 26,060 | 19.3% |
| Petrol | 5,542 | 14.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,237 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 6,229 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 6,342 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 6,448 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 6,346 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Megane
On a 2016 Megane, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.0% 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.
- Tyres (6.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2016 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
81.6% of the 31,602 2016 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by suspension (7.0%).
Does the 2016 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 24.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,602 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.