2021 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,754 MOT tests, the 2021 Renault Megane recorded an 88.5% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (8.3% fail rate), the 2021 Megane comes out 3.2pp worse. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (6.3%) and tyres (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and malfunction indicator lamp — wipers alone was recorded 143 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.5% in the 0-30k band and 22.2% in the 90-120k band, a 13.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.9pp more often than petrol ones (15.9% vs 8.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.6% of tests failed in 2023 against 11.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 6.3% | 111 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.8% | 84 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 43 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.8% | 31 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.4% | 25 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 143 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 18 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 16 |
| 5 | Washers | 16 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 14 |
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 | 21.1% | 370 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 188 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 106 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 69 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.8% | 49 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 13 |
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 | 838 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 614 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 228 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 63 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 850 | 8.9% |
| Diesel | 536 | 15.9% |
| Hybrid | 368 | 10.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 38 | 2.6% |
| 2024 | 830 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 870 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Megane
On a 2021 Megane, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (6.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2021 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?
88.5% of the 1,754 2021 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Renault Megane?
Visibility, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by tyres (4.8%).
Does the 2021 Megane get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,754 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.