Renault Clio common problems

By component

What wears out on a Clio

Failure items grouped by the part behind them, with the share of failed Renault Clio tests recording each. A part can carry several DVSA wordings; they are listed beneath. One failed test often lists several items, so shares do not sum to 100%.

1. 1.Bulbs and lamps

   34.6% of failed tests

   Filament bulbs simply expire; the cheapest and most avoidable failure on the test, and one of the most recorded.

   • “A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning” — explained13.1%
   • “Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning” — explained7.5%
   • “A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED” — explained5.9%
   • “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps” — explained4.9%

   Across all cars, bulbs and lamps failures climb 15-fold between three and fifteen years, peaking at 15+ years. How long bulbs and lamps last

2. 2.Suspension bushes

   29.2% of failed tests

   Rubber bushes in arms and links perish and split with age and load; the most recorded suspension item on the test.

   • “A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn” — explained20.7%
   • “A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc” — explained3.4%
   • “A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn” — explained2.7%
   • “A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn” — explained2.5%

   Across all cars, suspension bushes failures climb 20-fold between three and fifteen years, peaking at 15+ years. How long suspension bushes last

3. 3.Coil springs

   26.5% of failed tests

   Springs fatigue and corrode where the coating chips, then snap, often at the bottom coil; potholes and salt accelerate it.

   • “A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened” — explained26.5%

   Across all cars, coil springs failures climb 20-fold between three and fifteen years, peaking at 12–14 years. How long coil springs last

4. 4.Tyres

   24.2% of failed tests

   Tread wears with every mile and sidewalls age and take kerb damage; the legal minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters.

   • “Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements” — explained9.5%
   • “A tyre cords visible or damaged” — explained6.8%
   • “A tyre seriously damaged” — explained4.6%
   • “A tyre seriously damaged” — explained3.3%

   Across all cars, tyres failures run at a similar rate at every age, because they are replaced on a cycle rather than wearing out with the car. How long tyres last

5. 5.Wiper blades and washers

   18.8% of failed tests

   Rubber blades harden and split within a year or two; washer jets block and pumps fail.

   • “Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen” — explained7.4%
   • “Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen” — explained5.4%
   • “Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen” — explained4.5%
   • “Wiper not operating or missing” — explained1.5%

   Across all cars, wiper blades and washers failures run at a similar rate at every age, because they are replaced on a cycle rather than wearing out with the car. How long wiper blades and washers last

6. 6.Headlamp aim

   13.7% of failed tests

   Aim drifts with sagging suspension, a knocked lamp or a botched bulb change; adjustment, not a part.

   • “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements” — explained9.0%
   • “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements” — explained2.9%
   • “Headlamp aim unable to be tested” — explained1.7%

7. 7.Ball joints

   12.4% of failed tests

   Steering and suspension ball joints wear internally and their dust covers split; excessive play fails.

   • “A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play” — explained12.4%

   Across all cars, ball joints failures climb 28-fold between three and fifteen years, peaking at 12–14 years. How long ball joints last

8. 8.Driveshaft gaiters

   11.9% of failed tests

   The rubber boot over each CV joint splits with age and flexing, then throws grease and lets grit destroy the joint.

   • “A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc” — explained11.9%

   Across all cars, driveshaft gaiters failures climb 21-fold between three and fifteen years, peaking at 15+ years. How long driveshaft gaiters last

By registration year

Clio problems by year

MOT pass rate for Renault Clio cars by the year they were first registered, from years with at least 1,000 tests. Every car in a row is the same age, so the rate is raw. Neighbouring years differ by a year of wear — a step of a point or two is age. The step at 2020, up 10.3 points, is larger than wear explains and most likely marks a change in the cars themselves.

Last column: change on the previous year, in points. Years registered within the last three years have not yet been tested and are not shown.

Before it fails

What testers warn Clio owners about

Advisories are the same parts a year or two earlier. Share of all Renault Clio tests carrying an advisory for each.

• Tyres50.1% of tests
• Brake discs18.4% of tests
• Brake pipes13.6% of tests
• Suspension bushes9.8% of tests
• Coil springs6.5% of tests

Go deeper

The rest of the Clio file

• Renault Clio: pass rate, ranking and the full failure record
• Is a Clio's mileage high for its age?
• Every Renault model compared
• Check a specific car's MOT history

Common questions

What are the most common problems with a Renault Clio?

Going by what fails the MOT, bulbs and lamps (recorded in 34.6% of failed tests), suspension bushes (recorded in 29.2% of failed tests), and coil springs (recorded in 26.5% of failed tests). These are the items testers actually record across 306,732 tests, not reports from owners, so they describe what goes wrong at the point where it has to be fixed.

Which Renault Clio year is the most reliable?

By MOT pass rate, Renault Clio cars registered in 2022 do best at 88.2% and 2011 cars do worst at 46.0%. Most of that ordering is simply age — newer cars pass more — so read the year table for steps larger than a couple of points between neighbouring years; those mark a change in the cars rather than the calendar. The largest such step is at 2020, up 10.3 points on 2019.

Is the Renault Clio reliable?

Adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, the Renault Clio passes 59.1% of MOTs against a national 72.3%. An MOT measures roadworthiness on the day rather than breakdowns or running costs, so this is a reliability measure in the narrow sense: how often the car meets the legal standard, and what stops it.

What should I check when buying a used Renault Clio?

Start with what fails most: bulbs and lamps, suspension bushes, coil springs. Then read the car's own MOT history for advisories carried year to year without repair — the model tells you what to expect, the history tells you whether this owner dealt with it.