Renault Megane 2013: reliability & common MOT faults

At a glance

How 6,378 first tests went in 2025.

Passed first time: 52 in every 100
Did not pass first time: 48 in every 1003,077 failed first-attempt tests
The typical car: 12 yearsabout 95,035 miles
First tests counted: 6,378

What failed most often

Coil spring (rear)17 in every 100 failed tests
Drive shaft joints and boots (front)13 in every 100 failed tests
Track rod end (front)12 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 2013 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.

Suspension

Five faults. The strongest is the anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front): 4.3 times as often as on similar cars.

Figures below are measured across the 3,070 of 3,077 failed first attempts (99.8%) 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.

Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front)

Failed on 300 first tests4.3 times as often as similar carsLikely 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 256 first tests, 5.8 times as often as on similar cars.

Anti-roll bar ball joint (front)

Failed on 84 first tests4.2 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

On an anti-roll bar ball joint, DVSA fails a suspension pin, bush or joint that is excessively worn as Major. One 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 40 first tests, 3.9 times as often as on similar cars.

Coil spring (rear)

Failed on 509 first tests3.6 times as often as similar carsLikely 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 145 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.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 199 first tests, 2.1 times as often as on similar cars.

Coil spring (front)

Failed on 509 first tests2.2 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.

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

Brakes

One wear pattern: brake discs (rear), 3.8 times as often as on similar cars.

Brake discs (rear)

Failed on 156 first tests3.8 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 488 first tests, 2.2 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), 2.7 times as often as on similar cars.

Drive shaft joints and boots (front)

Failed on 384 first tests2.7 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.

Lamps and electrical

One fault: brake light (rear), 2.4 times as often as on similar cars.

Brake light (rear)

Failed on 291 first tests2.4 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

All stop lamps missing or not working is graded Dangerous, and so is a stop lamp that stays on when the brakes are released. A stop lamp that is missing or not working is Major. On some vehicles with LED rear lamps, part of the stop lamp can go out when the rear fog lamp is lit, which is not regarded as a defect.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 25 first tests, 3.0 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), 2.3 times as often as on similar cars.

Track rod end (front)

Failed on 371 first tests2.3 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 101 first tests, 2.2 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.

Noise, emissions and leaks

One fault: diesel engine warning light, 2.0 times as often as on similar cars.

Diesel engine warning light

Failed on 126 first tests2.0 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

An engine malfunction indicator lamp that is illuminated to show a malfunction is graded Major on a diesel, but only on the diesels the test covers, which depends on the vehicle type and when it was first used. DVSA lists it under exhaust emissions for compression ignition engines, and the detail line for the row also names an inoperative lamp.

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.

Side repeater indicators

Noted on 27 first tests5.9 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Wheel bearings (front)

Noted on 102 first tests4.4 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Brake performance (plate test, rear)

Noted on 50 first tests3.3 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

Brake performance (roller test, rear)

Noted on 204 first tests3.0 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Seat belt condition (rear)

Noted on 35 first tests2.6 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: 52in every 100; Passed on the first test.
Fixed at the station: 6in every 100; Failed, then fixed at the test station the same day.
Failed: 42in every 100; Did not pass, and were not fixed at the test station.

First-attempt pass 51.8% of 6,378 first tests (2025): only cars that passed first time count. Official-style pass 58.0%: cars fixed at the test station also count as a pass. The 6 fixed and the 42 not fixed make the 48 in every 100 that did not pass first time.

Petrol and diesel

First testsTypical mileagePassed first time, as testedPassed first time, same mileage

Diesel4,898102,270 miles5151

Petrol1,48074,908 miles5554

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.

Newer cars are younger, so look for a jump rather than the climb. A year earlier (2024), when these cars were a year younger, 53 in every 100 passed first time.

Year	Passed first time	First tests
2000	59 in every 100	481
2001	56 in every 100	1,062
2002	57 in every 100	1,570
2003	55 in every 100	1,021
2004	53 in every 100	709
2005	50 in every 100	1,357
2006	48 in every 100	2,212
2007	49 in every 100	3,895
2008	49 in every 100	3,777
2009	47 in every 100	6,649
2010	48 in every 100	12,546
2011	49 in every 100	10,694
2012	51 in every 100	7,660
2013 This car	52 in every 100	6,378
2014	51 in every 100	6,391
2015	57 in every 100	6,005
2016	66 in every 100	4,841
2017	70 in every 100	4,856
2018	75 in every 100	1,869
2019	77 in every 100	2,357
2020	80 in every 100	993
2021	84 in every 100	718
2022	83 in every 100	1,230

If you are buying one

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

Mileage matters most on a 2013 Megane.

Of 2013 Megane vehicles with under 67,000 miles, 59 in every 100 passed their 2025 MOT first time. With 126,000 miles or more, 50 in every 100 did.

Under 67,0001,299 tests

59

67,000–86,0001,231 tests

51

86,000–104,000 Typical car1,285 tests

48

104,000–126,0001,261 tests

50

126,000 and over1,291 tests

50

Petrol or diesel?

	Typical mileage	Passed first time, as tested	Passed first time, same mileage
Diesel	102,270 miles	51	51
Petrol	74,908 miles	55	54

Figures are in every 100 first tests. Petrol cars look better on the raw figures only because diesel cars have done more miles (typically 102,270 against 74,908). 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 67,000	86,000–104,000	126,000 and over
Coil spring (rear)	6.7	9.3	8.4
Drive shaft joints and boots (front)	6.5	6.5	5.0
Track rod end (front)	3.8	7.0	6.2
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front)	2.8	5.4	5.0
Brake light (rear)	3.6	4.7	5.0

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

When a car fails

28in every 100

of failed cars had one item to fix.

48in every 100

of failed cars had three or more items to fix.

9in 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.

Is the 2013 Renault Megane reliable?

The 2013 Renault Megane follows the pattern of the model years either side. Its main cause of failure was Coil spring (rear), about 17 in every 100 failed tests. In 2025, 51.8% of 6,378 first MOTs on the 2013 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 58.0%. Among 3,077 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front) appears more often than on similar cars (9.8% of those tests; 300 observed failures; about 4.3× 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.

What is most likely to fail on a 2013 Renault Megane?

Ranked by how often they were actually recorded, the items that most often failed a 2013 Renault Megane at the first attempt were Coil spring (rear) (16.6%), Drive shaft joints and boots (front) (12.5%) and Track rod end (front) (12.1%), 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.

What common MOT faults stand out on the Renault Megane 2013?

Among failed first-attempt tests we highlight patterns that appear more often than on similar cars. Top example: Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front) (9.8% of those tests; 300 observed failures; about 4.3× more often than similar cars). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.

Why does Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front) stand out?

Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front) shows up more often than on similar cars (9.8% of those tests; 300 observed failures; about 4.3× 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.

What are common problems with the 2013 Renault Megane?

Common MOT problem areas for the 2013 Renault Megane include Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front), Anti-roll bar ball joint (front), Coil spring (rear). These are the faults that stand out compared with similar cars, not a complete list of what can go wrong on any individual car.

How should I read advisories vs fails?

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.

What does this Renault Megane 2013 MOT report cover?

This page highlights MOT failure patterns for the 2013 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.

Does this include engine and gearbox problems?

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.

At a glance

What failed most often

Suspension

Anti-roll bar linkage ball joints (front)

What it means

Also noted as an advisory

Anti-roll bar ball joint (front)

What it means

Also noted as an advisory

Coil spring (rear)

What it means

Shock absorbers (front)

What it means

Also noted as an advisory

Coil spring (front)

What it means

Brakes

Brake discs (rear)

What it means

Also noted as an advisory

Body and structure

Drive shaft joints and boots (front)

What it means

Lamps and electrical

Brake light (rear)

What it means

Also noted as an advisory

Steering

Track rod end (front)

What it means

Also noted as an advisory

Noise, emissions and leaks

Diesel engine warning light

What it means

Advisories

Side repeater indicators

Wheel bearings (front)

Brake performance (plate test, rear)

Brake performance (roller test, rear)

Seat belt condition (rear)

MOT pass rates

Petrol and diesel

Same model, other years

If you are buying one

Mileage matters most on a 2013 Megane.

Petrol or diesel?

What to check at your mileage

When a car fails

FAQs

About this data

What we include

Same-day repairs

How we compare

What this does not cover

Check any vehicle’s MOT history