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Renault Clio reliability by build year

Coverage 2005-present3 named generationssuperminiHatchbackPETROL / DIESEL / HYBRID ELECTRIC
At a glance

Renault Clio built around 2018: fails its MOT more often than average

Renault Clios built around 2018 fail their MOT more often than similar cars the same age. Look closely at the tyres on any car you view.

Check a Renault Clio by number plate

Key figure

25% of MOT tests on Renault Clios built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 16% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Renault Clios built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Renault Clio's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Clio's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Clio Mk5

Mk5 (2019-present)

Poor
PETROLDIESELHYBRID ELECTRIC

17.8% fail rate, built around 2020 (5 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 8 MOTs, 12.8%)

From 14,843 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Clio Mk4

Mk4 (2012-2018)

Poor
PETROLDIESEL

31.0% fail rate, built around 2017 (8 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 5 MOTs, 18.7%)

From 12,376 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Clio Mk3

Mk3 (2005-2011)

Poor
PETROLDIESEL

35.8% fail rate, built around 2011 (14 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 29%)

From 26,927 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Pre

Older models (before 2005)

PETROLDIESEL

34.2% fail rate, built around 2004 (21 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.1%)

From 7,283 MOT tests at this ageNo separate page

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Renault Clio.

See every build year for the Renault Clio

Side-by-side

Renault Clio generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
Mk5 (2019-present)
Poor
Poor17.8%built around 2020 (5 years old)from 14,843 MOT tests at this age
Mk4 (2012-2018)
Poor
Poor31.0%built around 2017 (8 years old)from 12,376 MOT tests at this age
Mk3 (2005-2011)
Poor
Poor35.8%built around 2011 (14 years old)from 26,927 MOT tests at this age
Older models (before 2005)
No rating
No rating34.2%built around 2004 (21 years old)from 7,283 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Clio, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Renault Clio fail rate by age

This chart combines every Renault Clio ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
10,02111.7%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
12,40413.8%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
14,84317.8%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
24,77422.9%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
24,59924.8%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
29,11829.1%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
32,96030.6%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
37,35131.9%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
35,00532.5%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
24,72933.7%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
22,47535.8%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
26,92735.8%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
30,29135.9%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
18,76435.8%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
22,70336.1%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
21,23135.5%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
13,94034.9%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
9,83934.5%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
7,28334.2%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
4,56633.2%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
2,90232.0%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
1,61933.3%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
2,03930.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 17 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the Renault Clio stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other Renault models

7th of 11

7th lowest fail rate of 11 Renault models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the middle third

Against other hatchbacks

81st of 84

81st lowest fail rate of 84 hatchbacks with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the highest third

Against the UK average

24.8%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old Renault Clios

These issues come from 7-year-old Renault Clios, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    20.2%
    Advisory: 6,797Fail: 849 (11% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    18.9%
    Advisory: 6,193Fail: 557 (8% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    10.2%
    Advisory: 3,602Fail: 387 (10% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    9.7%
    Advisory: 1,166Fail: 1,648 (59% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    9.2%
    Advisory: 2,748Fail: 71 (3% of the times it was found)

Based on 24,599 MOT tests on 7-year-old Renault Clios, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old Renault Clios notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Tyres41%
  2. Suspension + Tyres24%
  3. Brakes + Suspension23%
  4. Other + Tyres19%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 8,517 MOT tests on Renault Clio cars built around 2018 (7 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

94%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · About typical

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

24 recalls in all

21 of the 24 Renault Clio recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 21 recalls

Top concerns

  • Contact between the positive alternator wiring and the alternator casing could cause an electrical short circuit
  • Central hinge in rear seats may fail under load
  • Front lower arm bolts

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks to compare

  1. 1

    Lexus CT

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    10.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.1%
    Dangerous
    4.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    88.2%

    Lower fail rate: 10.5%, against 24.8% for the Renault Clio, both built around 2018.

    3,255 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Toyota Prius

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    11.1%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.9%
    Dangerous
    3.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    94.4%

    Lower fail rate: 11.1%, against 24.8% for the Renault Clio, both built around 2018.

    5 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    17,367 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Suzuki SX4

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13.5%

    Lower fail rate: 13.5%, against 24.8% for the Renault Clio, both built around 2018.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    3,314 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Mini

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    12.3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.6%

    Lower fail rate: 12.3%, against 24.8% for the Renault Clio, both built around 2018.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate, share still registered and recalls only.

    50,561 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the Renault Clio across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably more often than typical for this age. It has the 7th lowest fail rate of 11 Renault models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 24,599 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Renault Clio ever sold: 430,383 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 24,599 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.