1995 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
1,275 MOT tests on the 1995 Renault Clio are in this dataset, and 75.7% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.7%) and lighting & signalling (10.3%) 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 service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 149 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.8% in the 0-30k band and 30.0% in the 150k+ band, a 19.3-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.1% in 2021 to 19.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.7% | 162 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 132 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 112 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.1% | 103 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 86 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 63 |
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 | 149 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 94 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 74 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 69 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 63 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 57 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.7% | 289 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.5% | 287 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.8% | 214 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.6% | 212 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.7% | 174 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.5% | 172 |
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 | 93 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 340 | 27.9% |
| 60-90k | 370 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 286 | 24.8% |
| 120-150k | 144 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 30.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,244 | 24.2% |
| Diesel | 31 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 316 | 22.1% |
| 2022 | 294 | 27.2% |
| 2023 | 259 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 220 | 23.2% |
| 2025 | 186 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Clio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 12.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (12.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.8% 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 1995 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 1,275 1995 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Renault Clio?
Brakes, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.3%).
Does the 1995 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,275 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.