MOT cost .

Renault

R5

765 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where R5s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 2.0 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.

Pass

73.7%

Pass-after-fix

3.3%

Fail

20.8%

Avg miles

78,222

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

R5: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass

Across 765 MOT tests, the R5 returns 73.7% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is the strength or continuity of the load bearing. A torn steering gaiter and a split CV-joint boot round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 78,222, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

  1. 01

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    42 occurrences · 5.5% of tests

  2. 02

    Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated

    28 occurrences · 3.7% of tests

  3. 03

    A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated

    28 occurrences · 3.7% of tests

  4. 04

    Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.

    25 occurrences · 3.3% of tests

  5. 05

    Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

    25 occurrences · 3.3% of tests

  6. 06

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    24 occurrences · 3.1% of tests

  7. 07

    Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

    16 occurrences · 2.1% of tests

  8. 08

    A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier

    16 occurrences · 2.1% of tests

  9. 09

    Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

    15 occurrences · 2.0% of tests

  10. 10

    A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

    15 occurrences · 2.0% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures

£160–£480

If every one of this R5's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

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Buying or keeping a R5?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a R5 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.