2021 Renault Clio S Tce — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,919 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Renault Clio S Tce, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 90.3% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 19.8% in the 60-90k group versus 5.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 167 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.9% | 154 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.8% | 108 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 71 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 43 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 164 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 86 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 78 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 67 |
| 5 | Washers | 35 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 21 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.6% | 925 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.3% | 484 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.4% | 173 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 3.6% | 143 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 108 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 56 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,270 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,561 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 81 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 133 | 6.0% |
| 2024 | 1,872 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 1,914 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Clio S Tce
Before buying a 2021 Renault Clio S Tce, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.3% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (3.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (2.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Renault Clio S Tces pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 3,919 2021 Renault Clio S Tce MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Renault Clio S Tce?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by visibility (3.9%).
Does the 2021 Clio S Tce get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,919 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.