Used car guide

2017 Renault Megane petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Renault Megane first registered in 2017 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 3,235 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,235MOTs of 2017 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
78%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 80%)
6,200typical miles a year
4.9×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 Renault Megane petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 Renault Megane petrol than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints4.9× usual
    Renault Megane
    3.4% All 2017 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Headlights2.7× usual
    Renault Megane
    3.2% All 2017 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 1% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Link ball joint covers7.3× usual
    Renault Megane
    2.2% All 2017 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Brake lights2.1× usual
    Renault Megane
    2.3% All 2017 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.9% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Common 2017 Renault Megane petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 Renault Megane petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    20% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    13% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    12% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    5% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2017 Renault Megane petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 Renault Megane petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. How often does it need oil between services, and has there been any engine work?
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.9× as often on the 2017 Renault Megane petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2017 Renault Megane petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 7.3× as often on the 2017 Renault Megane petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Renault Megane?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Renault Megane compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023107Tyres 21%
20221,316Tyres 28%
20211,549Tyres 25%
20203,197Tyres 27%
20197,486Tyres 30%
20185,846Tyres 33%
201614,443Tyres 33%
201519,249Suspension 42%
201420,994Suspension 48%
201321,314Suspension 47%
201226,144Suspension 50%
201137,917Suspension 51%
201045,802Suspension 52%
200925,570Suspension 53%
200816,025Lights and electrics 52%
200717,266Lights and electrics 53%
200610,400Lights and electrics 55%
20056,462Brakes 50%
20043,295Brakes 49%
20032,344Brakes 46%
20024,388Lights and electrics 43%
20012,839Lights and electrics 41%
20001,156Lights and electrics 43%
1999363Lights and electrics 37%
1998216Brakes 39%
1997127Brakes 41%
1996–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Renault Megane cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score