2004 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Renault Clio passed 67.4% of its 69,236 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.4 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 29.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.1% of tests against 16.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 7,872 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.4% versus 19.4%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 32.4% fail against 34.0% for diesel, a 1.5-point gap across 69,236 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.7% in 2021 to 30.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.1% | 16,014 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.5% | 11,424 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.9% | 6,149 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.8% | 6,098 |
| 5 | Brakes | 8.7% | 6,042 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 4,066 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 7,872 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 6,813 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 4,713 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 4,449 |
| 5 | Washers | 3,898 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3,765 |
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% | 22,391 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.9% | 20,028 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.4% | 19,701 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 14,723 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 10,787 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.2% | 10,542 |
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 | 1,761 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 12,686 | 28.8% |
| 60-90k | 22,273 | 33.1% |
| 90-120k | 20,705 | 34.5% |
| 120-150k | 8,773 | 34.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,968 | 34.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 61,757 | 32.4% |
| Diesel | 7,479 | 34.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,224 | 33.7% |
| 2022 | 16,544 | 32.9% |
| 2023 | 13,157 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 10,320 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 7,991 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Clio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 23.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (23.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.5% 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.
- Visibility (8.9% 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.
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 2004 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
67.4% of the 69,236 2004 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Renault Clio?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.1% of tests, followed by suspension (16.5%).
Does the 2004 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 34.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 69,236 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.