1994 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Renault Clio passed 76.9% of its 984 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), the 1994 Clio comes out 3.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.4%) and brakes (9.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 80 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.3% versus 16.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 18.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.1% in 2021 to 18.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 93 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.3% | 92 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 77 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 72 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 66 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 49 |
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 | 80 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 57 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 55 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 52 |
| 5 | Washers | 46 |
| 6 | Wipers | 38 |
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 | 18.7% | 184 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.8% | 165 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 162 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.1% | 139 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 129 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.5% | 103 |
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 | 68 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 261 | 25.3% |
| 60-90k | 274 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 248 | 23.0% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 18.9% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 20.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 937 | 22.7% |
| Diesel | 47 | 29.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 251 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 225 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 183 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 172 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 153 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Clio
On a 1994 Clio, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.3% 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.
- Suspension (7.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 1994 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 984 1994 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Renault Clio?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by brakes (9.3%).
Does the 1994 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 0-30k band to 20.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 984 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.