1997 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Renault Clio passed 68.6% of its 1,076 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 29.1% of the time, so this is 2.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.0%) and brakes (13.5%) 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 103 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.0% once past 120-150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 151 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.5% | 145 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.9% | 117 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 105 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 93 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.4% | 69 |
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 | 103 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 101 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 76 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 74 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 59 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | 32.3% | 348 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.3% | 305 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.2% | 260 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.6% | 243 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.7% | 223 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.6% | 146 |
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 | 78 | 20.5% |
| 30-60k | 491 | 31.0% |
| 60-90k | 336 | 35.4% |
| 90-120k | 109 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 53 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 319 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 265 | 32.5% |
| 2023 | 209 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 161 | 33.5% |
| 2025 | 122 | 33.6% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Clio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.5% 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 (10.9% 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 1997 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 1,076 1997 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Renault Clio?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by brakes (13.5%).
Does the 1997 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.5% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,076 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.