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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2017 Renault Megane MOT fail rate and common faults

How Renault Megane cars first used in 2017 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 19,212 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 8 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 8 (n=4,719)30.0%
All cars at 8 years (n=10,440,457)23.8%
Difference+6.3 pts
MOT tests of 2017 cars, 2022 to 202519,212

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 8 years old, Renault Megane cars first used in 2017 failed 30.0% of MOTs (4,719 tests), 6.3 points above the 23.8% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 5 to 8 years old, the fail rate moved from 21.5% to 30.0%.
  • Renault Megane cars first used a year earlier, in 2016, failed 32.1% at the same age of 8 years (4,907 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Renault Megane at 8 years, is coil spring broken, at 4.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.1).

MOT fail rate by test year

Renault Megane cars first used in 2017: 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 yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
20225 years21.5%4,85715.3%+6.2 pts
20236 years24.4%4,83217.8%+6.6 pts
20247 years26.7%4,80420.6%+6.0 pts
20258 years30.0%4,71923.8%+6.3 pts

Most common faults at 8 years

These figures cover all Renault Megane MOTs at 8 years: cars first used 2014 to 2017, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=23,815). 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 itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Brake light not working Wear6.51.3
Coil spring broken4.52.1
Driveshaft CV boot split3.90.9
Shock absorber leaking3.90.6
Steering track rod end: ball joint play3.40.7
Dipped headlight not working Wear2.91.2
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear2.82.3
Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear2.72.0
Anti-roll bar link worn2.40.3
Wipers not clearing screen Wear2.11.7

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=23,815). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear17.315.7
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened14.78.6
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear9.88.6
Brake pads wearing thin Wear9.58.6
Shock absorber misting oil9.02.8
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively4.12.7
Anti-roll bar link ball joint: slight play3.90.5
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement3.84.0
Service brake performance: binding but not excessively3.60.8
Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.92.3

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=23,815). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 8 years

These figures cover all Renault Megane MOTs at 8 years: cars first used 2014 to 2017, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=23,815). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Diesel84.5%38.5%20,12925.1%71,772 miles
Petrol15.5%28.6%3,68622.8%49,854 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 8 years

These figures cover all Renault Megane MOTs at 8 years: cars first used 2014 to 2017, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=23,815). At 8 years, Renault Megane cars at 120,000 to 150,000 miles failed more often (48.7%, n=1,301) than those at under 30,000 miles (20.6%, n=1,353). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Under 30,000 miles20.6%1,35313.4%
30,000 to 60,000 miles30.7%7,79121.0%
60,000 to 90,000 miles39.9%8,85626.6%
90,000 to 120,000 miles44.2%3,79430.2%
120,000 to 150,000 miles48.7%1,30131.7%

Car tax rules for a 2017 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.
  • Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate set by CO2 emissions, then the standard rate each year. A petrol, diesel or hybrid car with a list price over £40,000 also pays the expensive car supplement for five years, from the second tax payment.
  • A car first used in 2017 can fall under either rule, so the registration date on the logbook decides.

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 from September 2015 usually meet Euro 6, the diesel standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • 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

Other Renault models first used in 2017

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Renault Clio (2017)8 years in 202536.5%19,31323.8%
Renault Captur (2017)8 years in 202523.0%19,45023.8%
Renault Kadjar (2017)8 years in 202528.2%14,55923.8%
Renault Scenic (2017)8 years in 202525.0%1,53423.8%
Renault Twingo (2017)8 years in 202523.3%1,40223.8%
Renault Grand Scenic (2017)8 years in 202535.9%1,10123.8%
Renault Zoe (2017)7 years in 202436.3%1,03520.6%

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 2017 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.