2018 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Renault Clio passed 84.5% of its 116,427 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 11.3% of the time, so this is 4.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.4%) and visibility (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, ball joint and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 5,073 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.8% in the 0-30k band and 23.4% in the 150k+ band, a 12.5-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (18.0% vs 14.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 6,337 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.4% | 6,337 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.2% | 6,101 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.4% | 5,133 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 4,210 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 1,147 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 5,073 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 4,697 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,812 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,644 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 2,564 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,037 |
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 | 28.9% | 33,619 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.0% | 20,954 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 6,973 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.4% | 3,936 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 3.0% | 3,464 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 2,668 |
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 | 52,955 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 50,083 | 18.1% |
| 60-90k | 11,119 | 23.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,853 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 288 | 28.8% |
| 150k+ | 107 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 92,724 | 14.9% |
| Diesel | 23,703 | 18.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,521 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 22,563 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 23,009 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 23,647 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 24,687 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Clio
On a 2018 Clio, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.4% 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.
- Visibility (5.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (5.2% 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.
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 2018 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
84.5% of the 116,427 2018 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Renault Clio?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by visibility (5.4%).
Does the 2018 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 116,427 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.