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Renault Safrane Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Renault Safrane car check

Is the Renault Safrane reliable? We analysed 26,029 real MOT tests across 4,984 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 26,029 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
66.1%
Typical Mileage
102,313mi
Annual Mileage
4,892mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Renault Safrane is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering rack gaiter split, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Renault Safrane.

Renault Safrane Number Plates

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

Renault Safrane MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

70%
2000
66.5%
1999
66.2%
1998
65%
1997
66.2%
1996
66.2%
1995
66.4%
1994
66.4%
1993

Renault Safrane Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Steering rack gaiter split 1,741
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1,479
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 1,309
Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,138
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 880
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 780
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 758
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 729
constant velocity joint gaiter insecurely mounted to its housing 699
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 665

Renault Safrane Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,608 mi/yr
Typical
4,892 mi/yr
Average
6,006 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,025 mi/yr

Renault Safrane MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2000 243 70.0% 66,486 97,318 117,330
1999 2,836 66.5% 68,713 92,488 120,029
1998 5,761 66.2% 70,425 95,330 123,098
1997 6,257 65.0% 88,074 111,088 137,581
1996 2,224 66.2% 81,778 104,095 124,788
1995 2,506 66.2% 85,996 108,388 132,189
1994 3,155 66.4% 80,400 101,386 127,772
1993 2,941 66.4% 75,548 101,114 128,068

How Long Does a Renault Safrane Last?

Based on 4,984 Renault Safrane vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.3 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Renault Safrane Mileage Distribution

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

Median
102,313 mi
75th Percentile
128,809 mi
95th Percentile
173,226 mi
Max Recorded
993,291 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Renault Safrane

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

Best year
2000

70.0% MOT pass rate from 243 tests

Year to avoid
1997

65.0% MOT pass rate from 6,257 tests

The best year to buy a used Renault Safrane is 2000, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 70.0% across 243 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Renault Safrane Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Renault Safrane THIS CAR 66.1% 26,029 102,313 mi 33 yrs
Renault Clio 67.1% 14,729,048 62,807 mi 33 yrs
Renault Megane 67.3% 7,306,346 70,453 mi 30 yrs
Renault Laguna 64.6% 2,783,232 89,257 mi 32 yrs
Yamaha XV1100 86.5% 15,331 20,082 mi 40 yrs

Compared to the Renault Clio (67.1% pass rate) and the Renault Megane (67.3% pass rate), the Renault Safrane trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Renault Safrane?

The Renault Safrane has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.1% across 26,029 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Renault Safrane are steering rack gaiter split (1,741 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1,479), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (1,309). 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 Safrane owner drives around 4,892 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 Safrane models stay on UK roads for around 33 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 Safrane — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Renault Safrane reliable?
Based on 26,029 MOT tests, the Renault Safrane has a 66.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Renault Safrane?
The most common MOT failures are steering rack gaiter split, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Renault Safrane do per year?
The typical Renault Safrane does around 4,892 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Renault Safrane last?
Most Renault Safrane models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 4,984 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Renault Safrane?
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 Safrane?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Renault Safrane is 2000 with a 70.0% pass rate across 243 tests.