2003 Renault Megane MOT pass rate: 62.9% (2,328 tests)
Is the 2003 Megane getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 63.1% -1.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 62.7% -2.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 62.7% -3.4 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 Megane
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 857 | 27.0% |
| 2 | Brakes | 631 | 19.9% |
| 3 | Suspension | 473 | 14.9% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 280 | 8.8% |
| 5 | Tyres | 239 | 7.5% |
| 6 | Visibility | 238 | 7.5% |
All Megane years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,821 | 64.2% | -2.4 pts | 88,858 |
| 2002 | 4,361 | 65.4% | -0.2 pts | 91,279 |
| 2003 (this page) | 2,328 | 62.9% | -2.1 pts | 94,539 |
| 2004 | 3,261 | 58.4% | -5.8 pts | 94,444 |
| 2005 | 6,393 | 57.6% | -6.8 pts | 93,388 |
| 2006 | 10,314 | 56.3% | -8.1 pts | 95,620 |
| 2007 | 17,105 | 57.0% | -8.1 pts | 95,486 |
| 2008 | 15,875 | 57.3% | -7.8 pts | 95,539 |
| 2009 | 25,371 | 56.1% | -10.4 pts | 102,568 |
| 2010 | 45,478 | 56.8% | -10.6 pts | 101,025 |
| 2011 | 37,660 | 57.9% | -11.3 pts | 97,568 |
| 2012 | 26,017 | 59.2% | -12.0 pts | 95,966 |
| 2013 | 21,183 | 59.7% | -13.6 pts | 90,120 |
| 2014 | 20,883 | 59.2% | -16.7 pts | 84,642 |
| 2015 | 19,172 | 65.9% | -12.9 pts | 76,737 |
| 2016 | 14,355 | 74.8% | -6.5 pts | 62,142 |
| 2017 | 14,091 | 78.2% | -5.8 pts | 56,884 |
| 2018 | 5,809 | 81.7% | -4.7 pts | 45,776 |
| 2019 | 7,455 | 82.4% | -6.0 pts | 35,654 |
| 2020 | 3,035 | 84.8% | -5.1 pts | 31,404 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Renault Megane years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Renault Megane reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 62.9% of their MOT tests (2,328 tests, 2023–2025), -2.1 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 94,539 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 Megane?
The median tested example shows 94,539 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.