1997 Renault Megane — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 346 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Renault Megane, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 71.7% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (73.1%).

Pass rate

346

MOT tests analysed

28.3%

Fail rate

worse than

vs small family cars of similar age

25.7

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 1997 Renault Megane
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	11.6%	40
2	Brakes	10.7%	37
3	Suspension	10.1%	35
4	Body, structure & corrosion	9.0%	31
5	Visibility	7.5%	26
6	Emissions & environmental	5.5%	19

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 1997 Renault Megane
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Washers	23
2	Catalyst emissions	23
3	Service brake imbalance	21
4	Component mounting prescribed areas	19
5	Service brake performance	18
6	Position lamp	17

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 1997 Renault Megane
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Suspension	27.8%	96
2	Brakes	27.2%	94
3	Tyres	22.8%	79
4	Body, structure & corrosion	19.1%	66
5	Emissions & environmental	11.0%	38
6	Other defects	10.4%	36

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1997 Megane
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
30-60k	90	28.9%
60-90k	133	27.8%
90-120k	69	27.5%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 1997 Megane
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	98	28.6%
2022	78	26.9%
2023	68	26.5%
2024	51	25.5%
2025	51	35.3%

What to check before buying a 1997 Megane

Before buying a 1997 Renault Megane, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.6% of tests for this year.

Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Brakes (10.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Suspension (10.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.

Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.

Frequently asked questions

How many 1997 Renault Meganes pass their MOT?

71.7% of the 346 1997 Renault Megane MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Renault Megane?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by brakes (10.7%).

Does the 1997 Megane get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.9% in the 30-60k band to 27.5% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 346 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.