2019 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
80,377 MOT tests on the 2019 Renault Clio are in this dataset, and 85.8% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (10.1% fail rate), the 2019 Clio comes out 4.1pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.9%) and visibility (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 3,594 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.7% versus 10.6%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.6% fail against 17.3% for diesel, a 3.7-point gap across 80,377 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 4,755 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.3% | 4,278 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.9% | 3,118 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 2,955 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.9% | 2,341 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 599 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,594 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 2,107 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,896 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,630 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,576 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,080 |
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 | 29.4% | 23,608 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.1% | 12,940 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 4,464 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 3.2% | 2,593 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 2,289 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.5% | 2,015 |
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 | 42,247 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 31,943 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 5,226 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 766 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 155 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 68,359 | 13.6% |
| Diesel | 12,018 | 17.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 999 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 19,343 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 19,430 | 12.4% |
| 2024 | 19,753 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 20,852 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Clio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (5.3% 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.
- Brakes (3.9% 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 2019 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 80,377 2019 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Renault Clio?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by visibility (5.3%).
Does the 2019 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 14.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 80,377 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.