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What to check: Renault Clio

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Ranked across all years of the Renault Clio, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Brake pipes underneathRuns high on this modelFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 17.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 10.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.4%

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 8.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 4.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

WheelsRuns high on this modelLook at each rim for kerb damage and check no wheel nuts are missing. A steering wheel that shimmies between 50 and 60 on the test drive often turns out to be a buckled or badly balanced wheel.Recorded on 4.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

A binding brakeRuns high on this modelAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 3.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 2.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.2%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourRuns high on this modelCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 23.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 11.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 12.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 3.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Start the car cold and watch the dash for Braking Fault, ABS, STOP or handbrake lights together.More than one lighting up at once points to the ABS pump, module or a sensor fault, not just worn pads.

On a 0.9 TCe Clio IV, listen for a rattle from the front of the engine on a cold start.A persistent rattle before oil pressure builds up can mean a failing timing chain tensioner; ignoring it risks an engine rebuild.

Ask for the service history and check whether ignition coils were replaced as a full set, not one at a time.A single-coil replacement often means another coil fails within months.

Check that the tyre pressure warning clears once moving, and ask how many TPMS sensors have needed replacing.Repeat sensor failures on the same wheel usually mean valve corrosion, an ongoing cost rather than a one-off.

Turn the wheel lock to lock at low speed and drive over a speed bump listening for creaks or knocks.Noise from the front end usually means worn top mounts, drop links or anti-roll bar bushes.

On a manual car, pull away from a stop in second gear and feel for shudder through the clutch pedal.Judder or a rumble with the pedal down suggests a worn release bearing or a judder-prone clutch.

Check the MOT history for repeated brake-related advisories.A brake note that repeats year after year matches this class's most common MOT fail category, and lines up with the owner reports of ABS and braking-fault warnings.

Full Renault Clio reliability report