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Renault Sport Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Renault Sport car check

Is the Renault Sport reliable? We analysed 1,888 real MOT tests across 150 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,888 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.8%
Typical Mileage
21,478mi
Annual Mileage
516mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Renault Sport is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Renault Sport.

Renault Sport Number Plates

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

Renault Sport MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

61.5%
2007
64.4%
2004
59.7%
2002
72.5%
2001
60.6%
2000
67.5%
1999
86.2%
1998
88.3%
1997

Renault Sport Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 40
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 37
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 34
position lamp(s) not working 28
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 26
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 24
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 22
Registration plate lamp not working 17
constant velocity joint gaiter insecurely mounted to its housing 17
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 15

Renault Sport Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
127 mi/yr
Typical
516 mi/yr
Average
2,447 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,606 mi/yr

Renault Sport MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 65 61.5% 48,917 79,711 105,330
2004 118 64.4% 48,762 69,187 89,981
2002 77 59.7% 65,254 82,611 102,772
2001 109 72.5% 43,380 71,411 94,506
2000 71 60.6% 51,222 73,958 92,527
1999 83 67.5% 52,504 72,079 92,219
1998 239 86.2% 8,524 16,704 59,597
1997 993 88.3% 8,326 13,366 21,788

How Long Does a Renault Sport Last?

Based on 150 Renault Sport vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.7 years
Median
19.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Renault Sport Mileage Distribution

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

Median
21,478 mi
75th Percentile
61,107 mi
95th Percentile
112,655 mi
Max Recorded
852,091 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Renault Sport

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

Best year
1997

88.3% MOT pass rate from 993 tests

Year to avoid
2002

59.7% MOT pass rate from 77 tests

The best year to buy a used Renault Sport is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.3% across 993 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Renault Sport Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Renault Sport THIS CAR 80.8% 1,888 21,478 mi 29 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
Land Rover Range Rover Autobio PHEV Auto 94.5% 671 25,845 mi — yrs

Compared to the Renault Clio (67.1% pass rate) and the Renault Megane (67.3% pass rate), the Renault Sport outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Renault Sport?

The Renault Sport has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.8% across 1,888 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Renault Sport are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (40 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (37), and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (34). 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 Sport owner drives around 516 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 Sport models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 Sport — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Renault Sport reliable?
Based on 1,888 MOT tests, the Renault Sport has a 80.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Renault Sport?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Renault Sport do per year?
The typical Renault Sport does around 516 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Renault Sport last?
Most Renault Sport models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 150 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Renault Sport?
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 Sport?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Renault Sport is 1997 with a 88.3% pass rate across 993 tests.