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MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

Renault Clio reliability: what the MOT shows

290,488 Clios had an MOT in 2025. 57.1% passed first time, against 70.6% for other cars of the same age and mileage. Most of the gap comes from cars registered from 2005 to 2019, which fail on suspension 2.0 times as often as comparable cars. Those registered from 2022 onwards pass as often as other cars their age.

57.1%passed first time
−13.4points against cars of the same age and mileage
2.6×as many steering failures as comparable cars
Report card

Renault Clio MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often Clios of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse
YearPassed first timeAgainst same age and mileageMOTsSuspensionSteeringBrakesTyresLights & electricsVisibilityBody & structureEmissions & leaks
200550.4%−8.77,263
200648.4%−9.711,726
200747.1%−11.316,069
200846.6%−11.513,494
200946.5%−12.914,691
201046.5%−14.121,275
201146.0%−17.116,236
201246.9%−18.213,901
201353.2%−12.919,680
201452.7%−16.425,839
201555.6%−17.123,929
201656.8%−19.322,251
201763.3%−16.119,229
201868.7%−13.319,731
201973.0%−11.417,246
202083.3%−3.810,816
202184.6%−3.79,215
202288.2%−1.47,897

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

Renault Clio years to avoid, going by the MOT

Well behind2005 to 2019−8.7 to −19.3 ptsMost common failures: headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) in 2005; position lamp (not working) in 2006, 2007 and 2008; coil spring (fractured or broken) in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017; ball joint excessively worn in 2013, 2015 and 2018; wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) in 2019. 262,560 MOTs.
Behind2020 to 2021−3.7 to −3.8 ptsMost common failures: condition (has ply or cords exposed) in 2020; wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) in 2021. 20,031 MOTs.
Level2022−1.4 ptsMost common failure: condition (has ply or cords exposed). 7,897 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

Renault Clio common faults at the MOT

5.2% of Clio MOTs failed on steering, against 2.1% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 19.5% on suspension, against 9.9%.

Most common failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken8.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.7%
Ball joint excessively worn6.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.5%
Position lamp: not working5.2%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.7%
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play4.2%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.1%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.1%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.5%
Stop lamp: not working3.6%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.1%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.2%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.4%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.8%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.2%
ClioSame age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Wipers: not working10.8×0.56% of Clio MOTs (1,626) against 0.05% for cars of the same age and mileage
Condition: buckle not functioning as intended5.9×0.61% of Clio MOTs (1,761) against 0.10% for cars of the same age and mileage
Ball joint likely to become detached4.8×0.37% of Clio MOTs (1,074) against 0.08% for cars of the same age and mileage
Ball joint excessively worn4.5×6.94% of Clio MOTs (20,174) against 1.54% for cars of the same age and mileage
Track rod end: ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment3.7×0.22% of Clio MOTs (640) against 0.06% for cars of the same age and mileage
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.7×4.16% of Clio MOTs (12,094) against 1.12% for cars of the same age and mileage
Mileage

Behind at every mileage

Clios pass less often than cars of the same age and mileage at every mileage, by 6.3 to 15.8 points. The gap is widest at 60–90k miles.

First-time MOT pass rate by mileage: Renault Clio against cars of the same age and mileage0%25%50%75%100%8188UNDER 30K−6.3 pts647830–60K−13.4 pts516660–90K−15.8 pts455990–120K−14.2 pts4458120K+−13.7 pts
Clio, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Clio

Diesels passed 53.5% first time, 15.1 points below comparable cars; petrols passed 57.5%, 13.2 points below comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 82,965 miles at the test, against 63,054 for petrols. Hybrids are mostly newer cars (median 21,315 miles), so compare them with care.

FuelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)Median miles
Petrol224,49157.5%70.7%−13.263,054
Diesel61,44153.5%68.6%−15.182,965
Hybrid4,55087.1%89.3%−2.321,315
Against rivals

Clio against other small hatchbacks

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The Clio ranks 17 of 17.

ModelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)
1. Honda Jazz136,22787.4%82.0%+5.4
2. MINI Cooper339,52785.3%80.8%+4.5
3. Toyota Yaris215,96482.4%80.7%+1.6
4. Hyundai i2077,31979.6%78.7%+0.9
5. Mazda 260,28480.6%79.8%+0.9
6. Suzuki Swift77,43880.6%80.1%+0.5
7. Audi A1162,41178.5%78.7%−0.2
8. Skoda Fabia118,92477.9%79.3%−1.3
9. VW Polo329,62176.0%79.1%−3.1
10. Ford Fiesta693,78873.2%78.2%−4.9
11. Citroen C395,14373.8%80.1%−6.2
12. Seat Ibiza113,18571.2%77.6%−6.4
13. Peugeot 208157,34971.7%78.8%−7.1
14. Nissan Micra81,54373.4%81.0%−7.6
15. Vauxhall Corsa477,34870.1%78.7%−8.6
16. Dacia Sandero97,35567.1%79.5%−12.4
17. Renault Clio148,25663.9%78.1%−14.2

Check these before you buy a used Clio

What testers most often noted as advisories on Clios in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Questions about Clio reliability

Is the Renault Clio reliable?

At the MOT, 57.1% of 290,488 Clio MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 70.6% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2005 to 2019: well behind (−8.7 to −19.3 points). 2020 to 2021: behind (−3.7 to −3.8 points). 2022: level (−1.4 points).

Which Renault Clio years should I avoid?

Going by 2025 MOT results, 2005 to 2019 and 2020 to 2021. Those cars passed first time −8.7 to −19.3 and −3.7 to −3.8 points against comparable cars.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Clio?

Coil spring: fractured or broken: 8.9% of Clio MOTs, against 2.7% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol Clio more reliable?

Petrol Clios passed 57.5% first time and diesels 53.5%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 13.2 points below and diesels 15.1 points below.

Is the Clio more reliable than the Ford Fiesta?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Ford Fiesta passed 73.2% first time, −4.9 points against comparable cars. The Clio passed 63.9%, −14.2 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the Clio's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a Renault Clio: 63 recorded model names, from "CLIO" to trims such as "CLIO ICONIC TCE".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.