2020 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
37,014 MOT tests on the 2020 Renault Clio are in this dataset, and 88.2% of them passed. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 8.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.6%) and visibility (4.3%) 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 tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 1,685 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.1% in the 0-30k band and 22.3% in the 90-120k band, a 12.3-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.6% fail against 15.0% for diesel, a 3.4-point gap across 36,029 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.5% in 2021 to 12.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 2,072 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.3% | 1,589 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 872 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 608 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 578 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 265 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,685 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 673 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 571 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 531 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 511 |
| 6 | Washers | 335 |
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 | 23.5% | 8,687 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 3,881 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 2,057 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.7% | 1,743 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 1,052 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.6% | 578 |
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 | 24,030 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 11,244 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,509 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 188 | 22.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 33,877 | 11.6% |
| Diesel | 2,152 | 15.0% |
| Hybrid | 985 | 12.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 376 | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 12,383 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 11,996 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 12,212 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Clio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.6% 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 (4.3% 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 (2.4% 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.
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 2020 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
88.2% of the 37,014 2020 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Renault Clio?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by visibility (4.3%).
Does the 2020 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 22.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 37,014 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.