The Renault Megane tops a chart compiled by the BBC using Department for Transport data that identifies the cars that most frequently and infrequently failed their first MOTs in 2007.
The data, issued by DfT subsidiary the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, reveals that 28.1 per cent of all ’53-, ’04- and ’54-plated Meganes which underwent their first MOT test in 2007 failed that test.
Click here to read James Ruppert's blog on the MOT data
That compares with 24.7 per cent of Peugeot 307s, which is identified in the data as the joint second most likely vehicle to fail an MOT at that age. The Vauxhall Corsa ranks joint second at a 24.7 per cent failure rate, while the Renault Scenic charted fourth with a 23 per cent failure rate.
The vehicles that proved least given to failing their first MOT in 2007 were the Toyota Corolla (11.2 per cent), the Honda Jazz (13.3 per cent) and the Honda Civic (14.1 per cent).
The data was issued under a Freedom of Information request submitted by the BBC, which has this morning collected it into a list and published it online.
The BBC’s list, however, includes only those cars that were tested 20,000 times or more in 2007.
A Renault statement said: "In 2004, the Renault Mégane was the second best-selling car in its segment, with a majority of its sales to company fleets. These vehicles will do an above-average mileage and it is unfortunate that the data does not take this into account as there are a multitude of reasons why a vehicle can vehicle can fail an MOT, from a light bulb to a tyre, that relate to use and maintenance.
"Also we do not understand the 20,000 threshold for the data that has been provided by VOSA, as there are a number of vehicles below that with a higher failure rate."
Elsewhere within the VOSA data, Autocar can reveal first MOT failure rates for less popular 2004-model-year models, some of which trump the Megane with their failure rate:
Mazda RX-7 60 per cent
Mazda 626 50 per cent
Audi S6 42.9 per cent
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti 36.8 per cent
Mercedes 220CE 33.3 per cent
Chevrolet Tacuma 33.3 per cent
Peugeot 407 31.5 per cent
Fiat Multipla: 30.6 per cent
Peugeot 807: 29.8 per cent
Fiat Doblo: 28.8 per cent
Chevrolet Matiz: 28.6 per cent
Chrysler PT Cruiser: 28.2 per cent
Alfa Romeo 156: 26.8 per cent
Chevrolet Lacetti: 26.3 per cent
Fiat Stilo: 23.1 per cent
Mercedes C220 CDi: 22.2 per cent
Citroen C2: 20.9 per cent
Citroen C4: 20.7 per cent
Land Rover Range Rover Sport: 20.4 per cent
Nissan Primera: 20.4 per cent
BMW 320i / 320d: 20.2 per cent
Audi A6: 18.8 per cent
Ford Focus 18.0 per cent
BMW X5: 18.0 per cent
Mercedes E220 CDi: 17.0 per cent
Jaguar S-type: 16.7 per cent
Kia Picanto: 16.4 per cent
Mitsubishi Shogun: 16.2 per cent
Porsche Boxster: 15.4 per cent
Daihatsu Charade: 14.7 per cent
Ferrari 360 Modena: 13.0 per cent
Hyundai Tucson: 12.1 per cent
Honda CR-V: 11.7 per cent
BMW 116i: 11.3 per cent
Lexus GS300: 8.1 per cent
Bentley Continental GT: 7.4 per cent
