2017 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 31,021 MOT tests, the 2017 Renault Megane recorded an 83.6% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), the 2017 Megane comes out 4.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.3%) and tyres (7.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — headlamp alone was recorded 989 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.5% in the 0-30k band and 21.8% in the 150k+ band, a 10.3-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.6% fail against 17.1% for diesel, a 3.5-point gap across 31,021 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 2,278 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.1% | 2,215 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 1,498 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,073 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.4% | 1,061 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 369 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 989 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 955 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 908 |
| 4 | Wipers | 805 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 717 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 609 |
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 | 28.0% | 8,669 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.6% | 6,379 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 3,026 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 2,302 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 797 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 686 |
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 | 5,553 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 14,795 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 7,491 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,248 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 637 | 23.5% |
| 150k+ | 294 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,738 | 17.1% |
| Petrol | 6,283 | 13.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,221 | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 6,085 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 6,197 | 16.3% |
| 2024 | 6,259 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 6,259 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Megane
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.1% 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.
- Suspension (4.8% 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.
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 2017 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
83.6% of the 31,021 2017 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Renault Megane?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by tyres (7.1%).
Does the 2017 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,021 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.