1988 Renault R5 — MOT failures & pass rate
427 MOT tests on the 1988 Renault R5 are in this dataset, and 82.4% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (20.9% fail rate), the 1988 R5 comes out 3.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests against 6.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, individual direction indicators and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1988 R5 fails 10.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.5% at 120-150k, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 44 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.6% | 28 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 27 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.9% | 21 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.5% | 19 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.8% | 12 |
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 | 19 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 17 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 4 | Wipers | 16 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 14 |
| 6 | Washers | 11 |
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 | 20.4% | 87 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.1% | 86 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 62 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 53 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.2% | 48 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.7% | 37 |
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 | 30 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 94 | 27.7% |
| 60-90k | 137 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 85 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 63 | 9.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 96 | 15.6% |
| 2022 | 90 | 18.9% |
| 2023 | 81 | 19.8% |
| 2024 | 76 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 84 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 1988 R5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.6% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1988 Renault R5s pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 427 1988 Renault R5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1988 Renault R5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by brakes (6.6%).
Does the 1988 R5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 427 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.