MOT fail rates by first-use year

2012 Renault Megane MOT fail rate and common faults

How Renault Megane cars first used in 2012 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 36,257 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

At 13 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 13 (n=8,033)48.0%

All cars at 13 years (n=6,612,160)38.3%

Difference+9.7 pts

MOT tests of 2012 cars, 2022 to 202536,257

What stands out

In 2025, at 13 years old, Renault Megane cars first used in 2012 failed 48.0% of MOTs (8,033 tests), 9.7 points above the 38.3% for all cars that age.
From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 10 to 13 years old, the fail rate moved from 45.7% to 48.0%.
Renault Megane cars first used a year earlier, in 2011, failed 49.8% at the same age of 13 years (12,805 tests, in 2024).
The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Renault Megane at 13 years, is coil spring broken, at 11.3 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 4.1).

MOT fail rate by test year

Renault Megane cars first used in 2012: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test year	Age	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars	Difference
2022	10 years	45.7%	9,909	30.3%	+15.4 pts
2023	11 years	46.5%	9,427	33.3%	+13.3 pts
2024	12 years	48.3%	8,888	36.0%	+12.3 pts
2025	13 years	48.0%	8,033	38.3%	+9.7 pts

Most common faults at 13 years

These figures cover all Renault Megane MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=49,487). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail item	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Coil spring broken	11.3	4.1
Steering track rod end: ball joint play	9.9	1.9
Brake light not working Wear	8.1	3.1
Side/position light not working Wear	6.0	4.8
Driveshaft CV boot split	5.9	2.0
Suspension ball joint worn	5.1	2.5
Anti-roll bar link worn	4.8	1.3
Handbrake too weak	4.0	1.7
Dipped headlight not working Wear	3.8	2.2
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear	3.6	3.0

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=49,487). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

Advisory	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear	19.9	18.2
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	19.8	10.6
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material	9.3	5.1
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear	9.2	9.1
Brake pads wearing thin Wear	8.5	7.3
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear	7.7	5.2
Anti-roll bar link ball joint: slight play	7.0	2.3
Track rod end ball joint: slight play	6.6	1.6
Suspension ball joint: slight play	6.1	2.0
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive	4.7	7.2

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=49,487). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 13 years

These figures cover all Renault Megane MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=49,487). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Fuel	Share of tests	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars, same fuel	Median mileage
Diesel	50.0%	50.9%	24,762	39.1%	112,366 miles
Petrol	50.0%	49.3%	24,722	37.7%	85,845 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 13 years

These figures cover all Renault Megane MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=49,487). At 13 years, Renault Megane cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (52.7%, n=4,282) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (38.9%, n=4,663). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles	38.9%	4,663	29.1%
60,000 to 90,000 miles	49.4%	14,728	38.0%
90,000 to 120,000 miles	52.8%	16,253	42.2%
120,000 to 150,000 miles	54.0%	8,697	43.2%
Over 150,000 miles	52.7%	4,282	43.0%

Car tax rules for a 2012 car

Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2012 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Renault Megane

2011 Renault Megane 2013 Renault Megane

Other Renault models first used in 2012

Model	Age at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
Renault Clio (2012)	13 years in 2025	52.8%	14,002	38.3%
Renault Scenic (2012)	13 years in 2025	42.5%	2,455	38.3%
Renault Grand Scenic (2012)	13 years in 2025	49.5%	1,651	38.3%
Renault Twingo (2012)	13 years in 2025	42.0%	1,241	38.3%

More on the Renault Megane

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2012 Renault Megane cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.