Renault R5 MOT pass rate & common failures
3,713 MOT tests on the Renault R5 (1981–2014) give it a 79.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 1.5pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.2%) and brakes (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 190 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the R5 fails 17.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.3% in 2021 to 17.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every R5 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 49 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1984 | 61 | 85.3% | 14.8% | Brakes |
| 1985 | 77 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Brakes |
| 1986 | 243 | 77.0% | 23.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 235 | 80.8% | 19.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 427 | 82.4% | 17.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 727 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 1,007 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 268 | 84.0% | 16.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 40 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Visibility |
| 1993 | 80 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 230 | 75.2% | 24.8% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1995 | 169 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 73 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 378 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 315 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 248 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 223 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 176 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 165 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.3% | 121 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.3% | 86 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 190 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 150 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 126 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 126 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 125 |
| 6 | Washers | 114 |
| 7 | Wipers | 114 |
| 8 | Non catalyst emissions | 110 |
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 | 19.1% | 711 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.9% | 701 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 542 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 464 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.3% | 420 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.0% | 335 |
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 | 311 | 17.7% |
| 30-60k | 880 | 20.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,222 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 826 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 322 | 17.1% |
| 150k+ | 137 | 21.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 840 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 774 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 748 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 674 | 21.2% |
| 2025 | 677 | 17.4% |
What to check before buying a Renault R5
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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.
- Suspension (6.7% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Renault R5?
79.8% of the 3,713 Renault R5 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.2% fail rate, across model years 1981–2014.
What does the Renault R5 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.2% of tests, then brakes (8.5%).
How much does mileage affect R5 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.2% for 150k+, a 3.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,713 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.