Van · 1996–2021 cars

Renault Master reliability

The Renault Master fails 34.9% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 51,132 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 48/100#10 of 40 vans

Checking a Renault Master before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 34.9%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 2% more; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 51,132; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 11,900; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Renault Master ages

Each point is the share of Renault Masters of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Renault MasterAll cars

Renault Master first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Renault Master	All cars
3	19.3%	12.3%
4	20.7%	14.1%
5	21.6%	16.4%
6	23.9%	19.1%
7	25.3%	22.1%
8	24.8%	25.5%
9	27.7%	28.8%
10	30.4%	31.8%
11	34.3%	34.6%
12	37.4%	37.3%
13	42.1%	39.5%
14	39.2%	41.1%
15	37.2%	42.3%
16	37%	42.9%
17	39.2%	43.4%
18	45.6%	43.5%
19	44%	43.4%
20	49%	42.8%
21	50.5%	41.4%
22	48.6%	40.6%
23	51.5%	38.9%
24	48%	37.1%
25	47.7%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Renault Master years

2014 cars come out best and 2019 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Renault Master MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2020	795	22.8%	39% more fails	50,090
2019 Master	1,919	20.6%	19% more fails	63,714
2018 Master	2,441	20.6%	9% more fails	79,010
2017 Master	2,248	20.9%	5% more fails	65,164
2016 Master	2,713	24.3%	2% more fails	97,560
2015 Master	2,711	27%	8% more fails	79,400
2014 Master	2,118	24.8%	11% fewer fails	79,234
2013 Master	2,271	28.8%	6% fewer fails	87,182
2012 Master	2,391	30.1%	7% fewer fails	78,661
2011 Master	2,355	38.9%	8% more fails	107,428
2010 Master	2,518	41.4%	10% more fails	108,701
2009 Master	2,609	39.5%	1% more fails	111,470
2008 Master	3,918	40.1%	0% fewer fails	107,586
2007 Master	5,011	35.6%	10% fewer fails	89,041
2006 Master	4,299	38.4%	4% fewer fails	88,196
2005 Master	2,661	42.5%	1% fewer fails	115,917
2004 Master	2,156	47.7%	7% more fails	137,424
2003 Master	1,517	46.9%	7% more fails	123,192
2002 Master	1,390	46.7%	10% more fails	119,147
2001 Master	1,142	49.5%	17% more fails	122,569
2000	838	51.1%	23% more fails	129,495
1999	552	49.1%	23% more fails	122,571
1998	359	49.9%	27% more fails	125,669

Common problems

What fails most on a Renault Master

Its weak spot is brakes: 63% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics17.5%14% above avg
Brakes15.1%63% above avg
Suspension8.7%29% below avg
Body, chassis and structure6.6%20% above avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.5%15% above avg
Steering3.7%34% above avg
Tyres3.4%48% below avg
Seat belts and airbags2.4%35% above avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.2%52% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 5.04% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
2
Position lamp not working 3.51% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.78% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
CV joint boot split or insecure 2.65% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
5
Steering rack gaiter no longer sealed 2.26% of tests
A damaged gaiter lets dirt into the steering rack, causing wear and possibly costly repairs later.
6
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 2.25% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
7
Parking brake inoperative on one side 2.22% of tests
The parking brake does not work on one side, so the car may not hold on a slope and needs repair.
8
Service brake excessively binding 2.06% of tests
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Renault Master's MOT certificate most often.

Brake disc pitted or scored9.83%
Tyre worn close to legal limit6.9%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy6.36%
Suspension ball joint slight play5.99%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.94%
Engine oil leak, not excessive5.87%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Renault Master

1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Renault Master covers about 11,900 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel99.9%
Petrol0%
Electric0%
LPG0%

Most common colours

White, Grey, Blue, Yellow, Black

Average engine size: 2.4 litres.

Compare

How the Renault Master compares with its rivals

Renault Master against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Toyota Hiace	35.4%	17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Master	34.9%	about average for its age
Citroën Relay	36.3%	13% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën Nemo	41.5%	22% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot Bipper	41.8%	23% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Transit Courier	29.5%	37% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz Citan	37.2%	52% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every van ranked in the van reliability index, or all Renault models.

Questions

Renault Master questions, answered

Is the Renault Master reliable?

On MOT results, the Renault Master is about average: it fails 34.9% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 10 of 40 van models in our index.

What fails most on a Renault Master MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Renault Master are parking brake efficiency below minimum (5.04% of tests), position lamp not working (3.51% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.78% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 17.5% of its tests.

Which Renault Master year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2014 cars do best (11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2019 cars do worst (19% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Renault Master do a year?

A typical Renault Master covers about 11,900 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Renault Master before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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