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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2007 Renault Clio MOT fail rate and common faults

How Renault Clio cars first used in 2007 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 88,145 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 18 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 18 (n=16,190)52.5%
All cars at 18 years (n=3,261,622)43.3%
Difference+9.3 pts
MOT tests of 2007 cars, 2022 to 202588,145

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 18 years old, Renault Clio cars first used in 2007 failed 52.5% of MOTs (16,190 tests), 9.3 points above the 43.3% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 15 to 18 years old, the fail rate moved from 53.1% to 52.5%.
  • Renault Clio cars first used a year earlier, in 2006, failed 53.0% at the same age of 18 years (15,173 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Renault Clio at 18 years, is coil spring broken, at 8.2 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 3.1).

MOT fail rate by test year

Renault Clio cars first used in 2007: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202215 years53.1%27,79141.6%+11.5 pts
202316 years53.0%24,04642.6%+10.5 pts
202417 years53.0%20,11843.1%+9.9 pts
202518 years52.5%16,19043.3%+9.3 pts

Most common faults at 18 years

These figures cover all Renault Clio MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=54,769). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Coil spring broken8.23.1
Side/position light not working Wear8.15.6
Steering track rod end: ball joint play7.02.0
Suspension ball joint worn6.52.4
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear5.84.0
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Wear4.51.9
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear4.52.3
Driveshaft CV boot split4.13.2
Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.00.6
Dipped headlight not working Wear3.92.1

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=54,769). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear19.617.4
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive14.712.6
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened13.211.1
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear11.39.8
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material8.912.3
Coil spring: corroded8.57.7
Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)7.23.7
Exhaust system: mounting defective6.71.8
Track rod end ball joint: slight play5.82.2
Linkage pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement5.11.1

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=54,769). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 18 years

These figures cover all Renault Clio MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=54,769). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol89.7%52.8%49,14743.2%86,861 miles
Diesel10.3%53.6%5,61843.6%114,398 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 18 years

These figures cover all Renault Clio MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=54,769). At 18 years, Renault Clio cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (57.7%, n=2,158) than those at under 30,000 miles (30.5%, n=1,314). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Under 30,000 miles30.5%1,31421.6%
30,000 to 60,000 miles44.6%8,78032.9%
60,000 to 90,000 miles53.7%17,56641.7%
90,000 to 120,000 miles56.7%17,15246.3%
120,000 to 150,000 miles56.5%7,34847.5%
Over 150,000 miles57.7%2,15846.8%

Car tax rules for a 2007 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2007 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Renault Clio

Other Renault models first used in 2007

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Renault Megane (2007)18 years in 202549.7%4,07343.3%
Renault Scenic (2007)18 years in 202551.0%2,15943.3%
Renault Modus (2007)18 years in 202551.0%1,44643.3%
Renault Grand Scenic (2007)17 years in 202453.8%1,10543.1%
Renault Laguna (2007)16 years in 202350.0%1,24142.6%

More on the Renault Clio

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2007 Renault Clio cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.