Renault Clio
Registered from 1992 to 2023.
About this model
The Renault Clio KLEE-oh is a supermini (B-segment) car, produced by French automobile manufacturer Renault. It was launched in 1990, and entered its sixth generation in 2025. The Clio has had substantial critical and commercial success, being consistently one of Europe's top-selling cars since its launch, and it is largely credited with restoring Renault's reputation and stature after a difficult second half of the 1980s. The Clio is one of only two cars, the other being the Volkswagen Golf, to have been voted European Car of the Year twice: in 1991 and in 2006.
From the Wikipedia article Renault Clio, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2010 1.1 petrol. 7,524 of 24,406 tests failed, 31%.
Better than 7% of 2010 cars. The typical one fails 24%, across 955 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 58% | 4,330 |
| Lights and electrics | 51% | 3,829 |
| Steering | 24% | 1,796 |
| Brakes | 21% | 1,577 |
| Visibility | 18% | 1,386 |
| Tyres and wheels | 18% | 1,367 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Where it stands out against its peers
- Steering: failed more often than 92% of 2010 cars — 24% of its 7,524 failed tests, where an ordinary 2010 car has 5%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 58% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Steering — 24% of its failures
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Brakes — 21% of its failures
- Tyres and wheels — 18% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 51% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 18% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 160–180k miles this one fails 30% of its inspections, against the 28% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 13% | 12% | 244 | |
| 20–40k miles | 23% | 15% | 1,623 | |
| 40–60k miles | 28% | 19% | 4,268 | |
| 60–80k miles | 31% | 22% | 6,988 | |
| 80–100k miles | 32% | 25% | 6,203 | |
| 100–120k miles | 33% | 27% | 3,318 | |
| 120–140k miles | 36% | 28% | 1,216 | |
| 140–160k miles | 37% | 28% | 350 | |
| 160–180k miles | 30% | 28% | 93 |
24,303 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1.0 petrol · 84 hp · 1176 kg · 2583 mm wheelbase · 5.2 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 1.0 petrol · 87 hp · 1154 kg · 2583 mm wheelbase · 5.2 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 1.0 petrol · 94 hp · 1157 kg · 2583 mm wheelbase · 5.0 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 0.9 petrol · 1165 kg · 2589 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 0.9 petrol · 87 hp · 1163 kg · 2589 mm wheelbase · 5.6 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 0.9 petrol · 91 hp · 1157 kg · 2574 mm wheelbase · 4.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 0.9 petrol · 89 hp · 1116 kg · 2589 mm wheelbase · 4.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 1.5 diesel · 84 hp · 1183 kg · 2589 mm wheelbase · 3.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 1.5 diesel · 84 hp · 1175 kg · 2588 mm wheelbase · 3.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 1.1 petrol · 75 hp · 1075 kg · 2583 mm wheelbase · 5.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 1.1 petrol · 85 hp · 1161 kg · 2573 mm wheelbase · 5.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 1.1 petrol · 85 hp · 1168 kg · 2573 mm wheelbase · 5.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/0129/17
The front right brake caliper's clip could break as a result of the cylinder rupturing. This could reduce the efficiency of the vehicle’s braking system in the case of emergency braking.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01416/23
An anchor point may be faulty and can cause the left rear seat back restraint system to fail. In case of an accident or hard braking, this increases the risk of injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0520/18
The dipped headlamp beams may face downwards as a result of the the headlamp beam height correction system not working. This would lead to reduced visibility for the driver at night.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0537/17
The front windscreen wiper mechanism could stop working whilst driving.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0606/16
The front wheel arch may be incorrectly installed. As a result, the brake hose may come into contact with the front wheel arch, causing wear of the brake hose by fretting. If the brake hose breaks and the brake fluid leaks out, the performance of braking could be compromised.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1270/14
There is a risk of aggression of the front flexible brake hose by the underwing plastic protectors (Clio IV) and/or a risk of escape of the hydraulic pistons from the rear drum brake cylinder (Clio IV Berlina). This could lead to a brake fluid leak and consequent loss of braking efficiency.
Recall of the product from end users