2016 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
144,541 MOT tests on the 2016 Renault Clio are in this dataset, and 76.7% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 15.6% of the time, so this is 7.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 12.8% of all tests — 6.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 11,073 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.1% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.9pp more often than petrol ones (24.6% vs 22.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.8% | 18,524 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 9,916 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 9,728 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.2% | 8,942 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 7,533 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 4,814 |
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 | 11,073 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 10,438 |
| 3 | Wipers | 5,972 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 5,262 |
| 5 | Joints | 4,608 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 4,205 |
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% | 41,688 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.2% | 36,404 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 11,316 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.2% | 10,417 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 4,760 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 3.3% | 4,726 |
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 | 28,807 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 73,383 | 23.0% |
| 60-90k | 32,973 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 7,431 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,350 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 469 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 97,932 | 22.7% |
| Diesel | 46,606 | 24.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,599 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 28,547 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 29,447 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 29,695 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 30,253 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Clio
On a 2016 Clio, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.8% 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 (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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 2016 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
76.7% of the 144,541 2016 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Renault Clio?
Suspension, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.9%).
Does the 2016 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 144,541 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.