Model Reports 5 min read Updated 18 Oct 2026

Renault Megane 2009: reliability & common MOT faults

In 2025, 47 in every 100 first MOTs on a 2009 Renault Megane were passes. Most common reason for a fail: Individual sidelight or tail light (front).

Summary

The 2009 Renault Megane follows the pattern of the model years either side.

At a glance

How 6,649 first tests went in 2025.

Passed first time
47 in every 100
Did not pass first time
53 in every 1003,502 failed first-attempt tests
The typical car
16 yearsabout 105,690 miles
First tests counted
6,649

What failed most often

  1. Individual sidelight or tail light (front)13 in every 100 failed tests
  2. Coil spring (rear)12 in every 100 failed tests
  3. Track rod end (front)11 in every 100 failed tests

How we count this. Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Only Class 4 cars on their first MOT of the year are counted. A car that fails and is fixed at the test station still counts as a fail in the first-attempt rate. These are raw results, not adjusted for age, mileage, or peer mix. The MOT does not test engine or gearbox internals.

Note:

These are patterns across 2009 Renault Megane vehicles in 2025, not a prediction that any one car will have them. Faults are grouped by part of the car. A wear pattern follows age and use more than the way the car was built. They come from MOT defect codes, not manufacturer bulletins, recalls or a diagnosis of any one car.

Brakes

One fault and one wear pattern. The strongest is the brake discs (rear): 4.4 times as often as on similar cars.

Figures below are measured across the 3,499 of 3,502 failed first attempts (99.9%) that recorded an odometer reading in 2025. Mileage is needed to compare like with like.

We only list faults with at least 20 failures and a rate of about 2.0 times that of similar cars, which keeps one-off results out of the list.

Brake discs (rear)

Failed on 169 first tests4.4 times as often as similar carsWear pattern

What it means

A brake disc or drum must be significantly worn before it is rejected, and being worn below the manufacturer's recommended limits is not a reason in itself. Significantly and obviously worn is Major, as is contamination with oil or grease. A disc or drum that is fractured, insecure, seriously weakened or missing is graded Dangerous.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 615 first tests, 2.8 times as often as on similar cars.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Failed on 172 first tests2.9 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

ABS is failed as removed only where it has obviously been removed, because not every vehicle in the age range where removal is not permitted has ABS. A warning lamp that does not light or shows an ABS fault is Major, as is a missing or excessively damaged wheel speed sensor. Every failure row for this component is Major.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.

Lamps and electrical

One fault: rear fog light, 3.7 times as often as on similar cars.

Rear fog light

Failed on 184 first tests3.7 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

A missing obligatory rear fog lamp, one that is not working, or one that does not emit a steady red light is graded Major. A rear fog lamp adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp is Major too. The manual allows it to go out when main beam is switched on or when dipped beam headlamps are switched off.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

Suspension

Three faults. The strongest is the coil spring (rear): 3.0 times as often as on similar cars.

Coil spring (rear)

Failed on 410 first tests3.0 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

A missing bump stop rubber is not a reason to fail a coil spring. When the vehicle is jacked and lowered, a spring that does not correctly locate as the suspension returns to its normal running position is rejected as insecurely attached. A missing spring is Major, and graded Dangerous where directional control is affected.

Shock absorbers (front)

Failed on 223 first tests2.8 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

Slight seepage that leaves a film of fluid on a shock absorber does not fail it. Severe leakage, or damage so that it does not function, is Major. A shock absorber missing or likely to become detached is graded Dangerous, though a missing one is only rejected if shock absorbers were fitted as standard.

Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front)

Failed on 275 first tests2.3 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

Excessive wear on an anti-roll bar linkage ball joint is Major. A joint likely to become detached is graded Dangerous.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 219 first tests, 2.8 times as often as on similar cars.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.

Steering

One fault: track rod end (front), 2.5 times as often as on similar cars.

Track rod end (front)

Failed on 395 first tests2.5 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play is Major, and one worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment is graded Dangerous. A dust cover that is damaged but still keeps dirt out is Minor, and one missing or no longer keeping dirt out is Major. Testers must tell wear from a joint's built-in clearance or spring loading.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 144 first tests, 2.8 times as often as on similar cars.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.

Body and structure

One fault: drive shaft joints and boots (front), 2.0 times as often as on similar cars.

Drive shaft joints and boots (front)

Failed on 380 first tests2.0 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

A constant velocity boot that is only severely deteriorated is Minor. It is Major once it is missing, split or insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. A transmission joint excessively worn is Major, and graded Dangerous when it is so worn it is likely to fail.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

Advisories

Other things testers noted as worn or close to failing, more often than on similar cars.

An advisory is a note from the tester about something that has not failed yet. It is an early warning, not a fail. Advisories for the faults above are shown with those faults.

Brake light (rear)

Noted on 136 first tests6.0 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Brake cable (rear)

Noted on 22 first tests4.6 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Brake performance (plate test, rear)

Noted on 62 first tests2.7 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Rigid brake pipes

Noted on 159 first tests2.7 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

Suspension arm ball joint (front)

Noted on 208 first tests2.4 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Counts cover advisories recorded on failed first tests only, compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

MOT pass rates

How first tests ended, and how the pass rates are counted.

Passed first time
47in every 100
Passed on the first test.
Fixed at the station
9in every 100
Failed, then fixed at the test station the same day.
Failed
44in every 100
Did not pass, and were not fixed at the test station.

First-attempt pass 47.3% of 6,649 first tests (2025): only cars that passed first time count. Official-style pass 56.0%: cars fixed at the test station also count as a pass. The 9 fixed and the 44 not fixed make the 53 in every 100 that did not pass first time.

Petrol and diesel

First testsTypical mileagePassed first time, as testedPassed first time, same mileage
Petrol3,91694,936 miles4848
Diesel2,733125,003 miles4647

Figures are in every 100 first tests. Cars with more miles usually fail more often, so the same-mileage figure gives every fuel the mileage mix of all the cars in this year.

Same model, other years

Passed first time in every 100, all tested in 2025.

40608010020002005200920152020Older carsNewer cars
406080100200020092020Older carsNewer cars

Newer cars are younger, so look for a jump rather than the climb.

YearPassed first timeFirst tests
200059 in every 100481
200156 in every 1001,062
200257 in every 1001,570
200355 in every 1001,021
200453 in every 100709
200550 in every 1001,357
200648 in every 1002,212
200749 in every 1003,895
200849 in every 1003,777
2009 This car47 in every 1006,649
201048 in every 10012,546
201149 in every 10010,694
201251 in every 1007,660
201352 in every 1006,378
201451 in every 1006,391
201557 in every 1006,005
201666 in every 1004,841
201770 in every 1004,856
201875 in every 1001,869
201977 in every 1002,357
202080 in every 100993
202184 in every 100718
202283 in every 1001,230

If you are buying one

What this year's MOT record means for the decision in front of you.

Mileage matters most on a 2009 Megane.

Of 2009 Megane vehicles with under 77,000 miles, 54 in every 100 passed their 2025 MOT first time. With 138,000 miles or more, 45 in every 100 did.

Under 77,0001,325 tests
54
77,000–97,0001,349 tests
46
97,000–115,000 Typical car1,326 tests
47
115,000–138,0001,307 tests
45
138,000 and over1,335 tests
45

Petrol or diesel?

Typical mileagePassed first time,
as tested		Passed first time,
same mileage
Petrol94,936 miles4848
Diesel125,003 miles4647

Figures are in every 100 first tests. Petrol cars look better on the raw figures only because diesel cars have done more miles (typically 125,003 against 94,936). At the same mileage there is no clear difference between the two.

What to check at your mileage

How often each fault turned up on a failed first test, by the car's mileage. Read it as: what is likely to need looking at on a car like the one in front of you.

Under 77,00097,000–115,000138,000 and over
Individual sidelight or tail light (front)2.87.79.3
Coil spring (rear)5.76.06.6
Track rod end (front)4.66.56.4
Drive shaft joints and boots (front)4.96.46.1
Suspension arm ball joint (front)3.15.46.8

Faults per 100 first tests, by the car's mileage at the test.

When a car fails

20in every 100

of failed cars had one item to fix.

58in every 100

of failed cars had three or more items to fix.

11in every 100

of all first tests had a defect the tester marked dangerous (unsafe to drive away).

Every figure here is a first-attempt MOT rate from DVSA open data for this model line, for cars of this model year tested in 2025. Each mileage band holds a fifth of the tests. MOTs do not test engine or gearbox internals, so this is a pre-purchase checklist, not a full reliability score.

FAQs

Short answers about how to read this model-year guide.

The 2009 Renault Megane follows the pattern of the model years either side. Its main cause of failure was Individual sidelight or tail light (front), about 13 in every 100 failed tests. In 2025, 47.3% of 6,649 first MOTs on the 2009 Renault Megane passed first time (PRS: items fixed at the station the same day, counted as a fail). The official-style rate including PRS is 56.0%. Among 3,502 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Rear fog light appears more often than on similar cars (5.3% of those tests; 184 observed failures; about 3.7× more often than similar cars). There is no single reliability score here; this is a pre-purchase checklist built from DVSA open data, not a guarantee for any individual car.
Ranked by how often they were actually recorded, the items that most often failed a 2009 Renault Megane at the first attempt were Individual sidelight or tail light (front) (13.1%), Coil spring (rear) (11.7%) and Track rod end (front) (11.3%), each as a share of the year's failed first attempts. That is what goes wrong most often on the car. The common faults table shows a different measure: faults that are unusual compared with similar cars.
Among failed first-attempt tests we highlight patterns that appear more often than on similar cars. Top example: Rear fog light (5.3% of those tests; 184 observed failures; about 3.7× more often than similar cars). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Rear fog light shows up more often than on similar cars (5.3% of those tests; 184 observed failures; about 3.7× more often than similar cars). That does not prove a design fault. Age, mileage, and how the car was used still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase checkpoint, not a manufacturer service bulletin.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2009 Renault Megane include Rear fog light, Coil spring (rear), Anti-lock braking system (ABS). These are the faults that stand out compared with similar cars, not a complete list of what can go wrong on any individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that appear more often than on similar cars among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights MOT failure patterns for the 2009 Renault Megane (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are compared with cars of a similar age and mileage. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics, not a full service history or manufacturer service-bulletin list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.

About this data

How this page is built and what it can (and can't) say.

These figures come from UK MOT open data for this model year. We surface common failure patterns against similar cars, not a full reliability score, and not a pass/fail verdict on any individual vehicle.

2024 2025

What we include

UK Class 4 cars only. Normal MOT tests (not retests); first test per vehicle per calendar year; results pass, PRS, or fail.

Same-day repairs

PRS means the car failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

How we compare

We compare this model year with other Class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year. This model family is left out of the peer group so the car is not measured against itself.

What this does not cover

  • MOTs do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronics; this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults come from MOT defect stats, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Age and mileage matching reduces, but does not remove, differences in how cars were used and maintained.
  • If the data for a car is too thin to say anything useful, we say so rather than guess.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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