Reliability report
Renault Clio reliability and common faults
Based on 661,744 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
39.3%
fail rate · average 26.4%
much worse than average
277,059 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
56.9%
with defects · average 48.6%
much worse than average
366,616 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
41.4%
first-time pass · average 49.8%
much worse than average
18,069 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Renault Clio
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Plates and identification
Steeringconfirmed in 2 countries
Suspensionconfirmed in 2 countries
Seat belts and airbagsconfirmed in 2 countries
Body and structureconfirmed in 2 countries
Visibilityconfirmed in 2 countries
Driving controls
Lights and electricsconfirmed in 2 countries
Brakesconfirmed in 2 countries
Tyresconfirmed in 2 countries
Wheels
Exhaust and emissions
Most common test failures
- 1Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 2Tyre insufficient tread
- 3Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 4Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 5Sidelight not working (properly)
- 6Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 7Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 8Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing
- 9Spring broken or cracked
- 10Turn signal color incorrect/not allowed
- 11Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 12Tyre damaged
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 14.5% avg 9.9% | 31.4% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 28.2% avg 15.3% | 44.1% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 39.7% avg 22.9% | 54.3% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 43.7% avg 30.3% | 63.9% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 43.9% avg 34.6% | 71.9% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 39.8% avg 31.4% | 76.7% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Clio | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67.8% | 86.7% | 87 |
| 2020 | 54.5% | 78.6% | 134 |
| 2019 | 62.0% | 83.2% | 255 |
| 2018 | 68.6% | 79.5% | 293 |
| 2017 | 65.0% | 76.6% | 423 |
| 2016 | 60.3% | 72.8% | 577 |
| 2015 | 64.3% | 71.1% | 541 |
| 2014 | 55.2% | 68.0% | 382 |
| 2013 | 62.2% | 65.9% | 463 |
| 2012 | 52.5% | 63.7% | 339 |
| 2011 | 46.7% | 61.2% | 345 |
| 2010 | 39.3% | 57.3% | 428 |
| 2009 | 40.8% | 54.5% | 488 |
| 2008 | 42.5% | 52.4% | 887 |
| 2007 | 41.6% | 50.6% | 1,132 |
Renault Clio – FAQs
How reliable is the Renault Clio?+
In the UK the Renault Clio fails 39.3% of MOT tests, against an average of 26.4% for cars of the same age – much worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 56.9% of APK inspections (average there 48.6%) – much worse than average. In Lithuania 41.4% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 49.8%) – much worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Renault Clio?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: plates and identification, steering, suspension, seat belts and airbags.
What should I check when buying a used Renault Clio?+
The most common inspection failures: Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing; Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Sidelight not working (properly). Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Renault models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons (licence).