Used car guide

2002 Renault Megane: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2002 Renault Meganes, from 1,110 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,110MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2002 cars: 60%)
3,900typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for anti-roll bar bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2002 Renault Meganes than on all cars registered in 2002.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints2.8× usual
    Renault Megane
    5.1% All 2002 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.4% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Coil springs: 3.2% here, against 10.4% of all 2002 cars. Sub-frame: 1.9% here, against 5.3% of all 2002 cars.

By area

The share of 2002 Renault Megane MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    44% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    39% 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.

  • 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.

  • Suspension
    28% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    17% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    14% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,296Tyres 28%
2021788Tyres 26%
20201,049Tyres 27%
20192,489Tyres 31%
20181,929Tyres 32%
20174,699Tyres 35%
20164,758Suspension 33%
20156,255Suspension 48%
20146,723Suspension 52%
20136,683Suspension 51%
20128,007Suspension 52%
201111,251Suspension 53%
201013,202Suspension 53%
20096,994Suspension 54%
20083,949Lights and electrics 54%
20074,048Lights and electrics 54%
20062,319Lights and electrics 54%
20051,428Lights and electrics 50%
2004729Lights and electrics 49%
2003556Lights and electrics 45%
2001715Lights and electrics 42%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2002 Renault Meganes registered in 2002. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score