1993 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
402 MOT tests on the 1993 Renault Clio are in this dataset, and 77.1% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), the 1993 Clio comes out 2.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.9%) and brakes (9.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 29 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1993 Clio fails 18.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 17.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 44 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.0% | 36 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 23 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 20 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 19 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 29 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 19 |
| 5 | Washers | 13 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.7% | 79 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.7% | 63 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.9% | 60 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.7% | 55 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.7% | 47 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 47 |
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 | 33 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 137 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 110 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 82 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 93 | 21.5% |
| 2023 | 83 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 62 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 78 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Clio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.0% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (5.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1993 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
77.1% of the 402 1993 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Renault Clio?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by brakes (9.0%).
Does the 1993 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 402 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.