1990 Renault R5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,007 MOT tests, the 1990 Renault R5 recorded an 81.0% pass rate. That is 2.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.9%) and brakes (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, service brake performance and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 45 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1990 R5 fails 16.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 20.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 4.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 19.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.9% in 2021 to 15.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 100 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.8% | 78 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 63 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 56 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 48 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 48 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 45 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 40 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 38 |
| 4 | Non catalyst emissions | 38 |
| 5 | Washers | 32 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 31 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.1% | 192 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 182 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 17.5% | 176 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 115 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.0% | 91 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.6% | 77 |
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 | 79 | 16.5% |
| 30-60k | 181 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 358 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 253 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 87 | 11.5% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 20.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 217 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 220 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 208 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 174 | 19.5% |
| 2025 | 188 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 1990 R5
On a 1990 R5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.8% 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 (6.3% 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 1990 Renault R5s pass their MOT?
81.0% of the 1,007 1990 Renault R5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Renault R5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by brakes (7.8%).
Does the 1990 R5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,007 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.