Renault R5: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Renault R5 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 2.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 578 individual Renault R5 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 74% first-time pass rate means roughly 26 in every 100 Renault R5s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Renault R5 tested had covered 80,483 miles and was built around 1990.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Renault R5 sits 2.7 points below the national average, ranked 1,647 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Renault R5 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Renault R5s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Renault R5

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.1% of tests (8.8x the national rate for this defect)
2. 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., 4.3% of tests (8.28x the national rate for this defect)
3. 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, 4.7% of tests (4.95x the national rate for this defect)
4. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.5% of tests (4.65x the national rate for this defect)
5. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.9% of tests (4.49x the national rate for this defect)
6. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.6% of tests (2.16x the national rate for this defect)
7. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.8% of tests (2.13x the national rate for this defect)
8. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 2.2% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect)
9. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.1% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this defect)
10. 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, 2.1% of tests (7.77x the national rate for this defect)

From 578 DVSA-tracked Renault R5 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.76% of these flagged Renault R5 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Renault R5

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Renault R5 before it actually fails on it.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 3.5% of tests (6.17x the national rate for this advisory)
2. 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, 7.3% of tests (4.79x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.3% of tests (3.48x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 15.4% of tests (2.77x the national rate for this advisory)
5. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 2.9% of tests (2.31x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.5% of tests (1.95x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.8% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.5% of tests (1.73x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 9.9% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this advisory)
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 10.2% of tests

From 578 DVSA-tracked Renault R5 tests, 2024.

Other Renault models

• Renault Clio - 61.6%
• Renault Captur - 79.7%
• Renault Megane - 61.1%
• Renault Trafic - 61.6%
• Renault Kadjar - 81.7%
• Renault Kangoo - 61.1%
• Renault Scenic - 62.3%
• Renault Twingo - 66.3%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Mazda 6 - 74%
• Suzuki Alto - 74%
• Fiat Motorhome - 74%
• SEAT Toledo - 73.9%
• Lexus Rx350 - 73.9%
• Ford Grand C-Max - 73.8%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the Renault R5? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

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Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Renault R5's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate