2023 Renault Clio — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Renault Clio passed 95.3% of its 581 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 5.0%, so the 2023 Clio sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (1.9%) and lighting & signalling (1.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1.9% | 11 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 9 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.4% | 8 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 7 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 4 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 6 |
| 3 | Wipers | 5 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 4 |
| 5 | Washers | 3 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2 |
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 | 19.1% | 111 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 29 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.8% | 22 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 1.7% | 10 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 8 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 4 |
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 | 507 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 72 | 8.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 334 | 4.8% |
| Hybrid | 247 | 4.5% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Clio
On a 2023 Clio, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 1.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (1.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.4% 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.
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 2023 Renault Clios pass their MOT?
95.3% of the 581 2023 Renault Clio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Renault Clio?
Tyres, recorded in 1.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.6%).
Does the 2023 Clio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.1% in the 0-30k band to 8.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 581 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.