Renault Megane (1998)
1998 Renault Megane
CarHunch analysed 51,076 real MOT records for the 1998 Renault Megane. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1998 Renault Megane passes its MOT first time in just 65.8% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly one in five of these cars (17.2%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a genuine safety concern for buyers. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically, both struggling at around 66% pass rates, so fuel type won't help you pick a more reliable example.
These Meganes are averaging 86,000 miles on the clock, which is reasonable for their age, but they're racking up an average of 2.6 failures and 5.7 advisories per test, suggesting systemic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before buying, insist on a full pre-purchase inspection and recent MOT history—this generation needs proper scrutiny, not just a glance at the paperwork.
What to check before buying a 1998 Renault Megane
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Renault Megane
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (93%) | 47,727 | 65.8% | 2.66 |
| Diesel (7%) | 3,339 | 65.6% | 2.31 |
| LPG (0%) | 9 | 61.1% | 4.11 |
| Fuel Cells (0%) | 1 | 50% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1998 Renault Megane vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1998 Renault Megane vehicles fall between 66,857 and 97,995 miles.
1998 Renault Megane — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 222 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2020 (6% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2020.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Renault Megane
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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53.2%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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47.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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35.5%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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35%
Oil leak
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30.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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28.6%
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits
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28.2%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
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24.6%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Renault Megane?
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