2011 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 129,420 MOT tests, the 2011 Renault Clio recorded a 69.0% pass rate. That is 7.2 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 23.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (21.3%) and suspension (19.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and track rod end — coil spring alone was recorded 17,208 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.3% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 30.8% fail against 32.4% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 129,420 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 30.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.3% | 27,608 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.5% | 25,285 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 8,908 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.3% | 8,223 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.8% | 7,560 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 6,729 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 17,208 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 11,588 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 9,129 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 8,767 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 8,541 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 8,018 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.8% | 37,221 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.2% | 30,012 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.0% | 24,598 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 18,154 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.7% | 13,858 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.9% | 8,940 |
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 | 5,390 | 20.7% |
| 30-60k | 34,202 | 27.7% |
| 60-90k | 51,758 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 27,585 | 34.0% |
| 120-150k | 7,702 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,282 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 108,399 | 30.8% |
| Diesel | 21,021 | 32.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,757 | 30.0% |
| 2022 | 27,258 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 26,525 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 24,972 | 31.5% |
| 2025 | 22,908 | 32.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Clio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (19.5% 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.
- Brakes (6.9% 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.
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 2011 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
69.0% of the 129,420 2011 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Renault Clio?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.3% of tests, followed by suspension (19.5%).
Does the 2011 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.7% in the 0-30k band to 34.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 129,420 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.