2021 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,767 MOT tests, the 2021 Renault Clio recorded an 89.9% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 7.7% of the time, so this is 2.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.2%) and visibility (4.2%) 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 889 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.5% versus 8.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.0pp more often than hybrid ones (13.5% vs 9.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.4% of tests failed in 2023 against 10.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 1,075 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.2% | 880 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 459 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 302 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 160 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 114 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 889 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 351 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 311 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 296 |
| 5 | Washers | 210 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 122 |
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 | 22.4% | 4,660 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 2,108 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.6% | 946 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 590 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 383 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.8% | 376 |
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 | 13,720 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 6,272 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 668 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 76 | 14.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 16,963 | 10.1% |
| Hybrid | 3,161 | 9.5% |
| Diesel | 643 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 570 | 5.4% |
| 2024 | 9,963 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 10,205 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Clio
On a 2021 Clio, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Visibility (4.2% 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 (2.2% 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 2021 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
89.9% of the 20,767 2021 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Renault Clio?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by visibility (4.2%).
Does the 2021 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 14.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,767 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.