2017 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 118,010 MOT tests, the 2017 Renault Clio recorded an 81.5% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 13.5% of the time, so this is 5.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 8.9% of tests against 5.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 6,835 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.4% versus 11.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.6% fail against 20.4% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 118,010 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.9% | 10,529 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 6,325 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.2% | 6,156 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 5,649 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 4,531 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 1,689 |
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 | 6,835 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 5,366 |
| 3 | Wipers | 3,718 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,892 |
| 5 | Washers | 2,819 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,731 |
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 | 27.9% | 32,956 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.3% | 25,182 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.2% | 7,287 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 5,935 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 3.0% | 3,592 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 2,934 |
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 | 36,437 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 58,460 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 18,586 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,495 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 684 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 169 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 81,532 | 17.6% |
| Diesel | 36,478 | 20.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,871 | 10.2% |
| 2022 | 22,885 | 14.8% |
| 2023 | 23,789 | 19.2% |
| 2024 | 24,307 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 25,158 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Clio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.9% 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 (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (5.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2017 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 118,010 2017 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Renault Clio?
Suspension, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.4%).
Does the 2017 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 118,010 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.