2015 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Renault Clio passed 74.2% of its 162,575 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 17.6% of the time, so this is 8.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.7% of tests against 9.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and headlamp aim — ball joint alone was recorded 15,468 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.1% in the 0-30k band and 28.7% in the 150k+ band, a 11.6-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 25.3% of the time against 26.5% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.7% | 23,896 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.1% | 14,863 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 13,539 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.3% | 11,825 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 7,694 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 4,882 |
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 | 15,468 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 11,587 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 7,027 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 6,810 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5,594 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 5,093 |
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 | 29.5% | 48,006 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.9% | 46,941 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.6% | 17,293 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 12,185 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 6,407 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 3.1% | 5,120 |
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 | 17,905 | 17.1% |
| 30-60k | 75,889 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 50,517 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 14,053 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 3,002 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 878 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 95,787 | 25.3% |
| Diesel | 66,788 | 26.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,395 | 21.5% |
| 2022 | 32,561 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 32,998 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 32,919 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 32,702 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Clio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.7% 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 (9.1% 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 (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2015 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 162,575 2015 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Renault Clio?
Suspension, recorded in 14.7% of tests, followed by brakes (9.1%).
Does the 2015 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 162,575 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.