2013 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
138,345 MOT tests on the 2013 Renault Clio are in this dataset, and 72.9% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), the 2013 Clio comes out 5.9pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests against 10.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, joints and headlamp aim — ball joint alone was recorded 12,657 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.5% in the 0-30k band and 32.0% in the 150k+ band, a 18.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.5% fail against 28.7% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 138,345 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.4% | 18,523 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 14,132 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 13,772 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 8,656 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 8,505 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 6,804 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 12,657 |
| 2 | Joints | 7,017 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 7,000 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 6,417 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 6,080 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 5,076 |
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 | 31.9% | 44,079 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.8% | 42,568 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.2% | 19,634 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.1% | 12,569 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 7,546 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 6,440 |
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 | 5,615 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 43,893 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 57,102 | 28.7% |
| 90-120k | 24,151 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 5,903 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,582 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 102,178 | 26.5% |
| Diesel | 36,167 | 28.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,325 | 23.3% |
| 2022 | 27,944 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 28,204 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 27,644 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 27,228 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Clio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.0% 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 2013 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 138,345 2013 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Renault Clio?
Suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.2%).
Does the 2013 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 138,345 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.