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Renault Megane Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Renault Megane car check

Is the Renault Megane reliable? We analysed 7,306,346 real MOT tests across 596,780 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,306,346 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
67.3%
Typical Mileage
70,453mi
Annual Mileage
6,443mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Renault Megane is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Renault Megane.

Renault Megane Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Renault Megane. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Renault Megane MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Renault Megane to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

81.9%
2022
85.5%
2021
83.4%
2020
82%
2019
81.4%
2018
80.6%
2017
78.9%
2016
75.1%
2015
70.9%
2014
71.3%
2013
71.3%
2012
70.9%
2011
70.1%
2010
70%
2009
68.2%
2008
67.2%
2007
66.8%
2006
66.3%
2005
65%
2004
65.6%
2003

Renault Megane Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Renault Megane fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 358,622
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 210,535
Registration plate lamp not working 191,357
position lamp(s) not working 180,297
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 159,959
constant velocity joint gaiter insecurely mounted to its housing 158,669
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 152,233
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 149,883
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 137,275
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 129,681

Renault Megane Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Renault Megane owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,972 mi/yr
Typical
6,443 mi/yr
Average
7,376 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,605 mi/yr

Renault Megane MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Renault Megane year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 232 81.9% 37,306 54,110 75,716
2021 1,356 85.5% 20,867 33,639 54,574
2020 4,172 83.4% 20,766 33,426 53,748
2019 13,461 82.0% 22,074 33,931 51,578
2018 13,185 81.4% 25,239 39,293 59,502
2017 39,532 80.6% 30,633 46,009 65,858
2016 45,934 78.9% 31,454 49,370 72,784
2015 74,022 75.1% 39,937 60,130 84,732
2014 97,464 70.9% 41,996 63,708 89,729
2013 112,602 71.3% 42,808 66,321 93,770
2012 160,091 71.3% 46,701 70,678 98,653
2011 273,454 70.9% 45,600 69,731 97,325
2010 384,868 70.1% 45,675 70,228 97,840
2009 261,520 70.0% 44,896 69,942 97,913
2008 299,015 68.2% 43,663 67,006 93,854
2007 496,670 67.2% 43,479 66,126 91,971
2006 532,184 66.8% 44,330 66,813 92,241
2005 667,463 66.3% 44,363 66,457 91,605
2004 653,897 65.0% 45,041 67,232 91,959
2003 591,931 65.6% 44,626 66,047 89,844

How Long Does a Renault Megane Last?

Based on 596,780 Renault Megane vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.6 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Renault Megane Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Renault Megane MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
70,453 mi
75th Percentile
94,616 mi
95th Percentile
134,286 mi
Max Recorded
1,759,259 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Renault Megane

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2021

85.5% MOT pass rate from 1,356 tests

Year to avoid
1995

57.9% MOT pass rate from 140 tests

The best year to buy a used Renault Megane is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.5% across 1,356 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 57.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Renault Megane Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Renault Megane THIS CAR 67.3% 7,306,346 70,453 mi 30 yrs
Renault Clio 67.1% 14,729,048 62,807 mi 33 yrs
Renault Laguna 64.6% 2,783,232 89,257 mi 32 yrs
Renault Scenic 69.5% 2,489,721 55,729 mi 26 yrs
Toyota Aygo 80.7% 3,073,569 41,749 mi 21 yrs

Compared to the Renault Clio (67.1% pass rate) and the Renault Laguna (64.6% pass rate), the Renault Megane outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Renault Megane?

The Renault Megane has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.3% across 7,306,346 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Renault Megane are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (358,622 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (210,535), and registration plate lamp not working (191,357). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Renault Megane owner drives around 6,443 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Renault Megane models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Renault Megane — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Renault Megane reliable?
Based on 7,306,346 MOT tests, the Renault Megane has a 67.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Renault Megane?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and registration plate lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Renault Megane do per year?
The typical Renault Megane does around 6,443 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Renault Megane last?
Most Renault Megane models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 596,780 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Renault Megane?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Renault Megane?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Renault Megane is 2021 with a 85.5% pass rate across 1,356 tests.