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Renault Clio steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 94,996 MOT tests · Updated

At 9 years, 1.5 in 100 MOT tests of the Renault Clio failed on steering, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 94,996 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 1,462 MOT tests with a fail
  • When it starts: clear of 1.2 times from 10 years and at every older age seen
  • Most common fail: Steering track rod end: ball joint play, 1.2 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.5 fails per 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 9 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Renault Clio steering fails by age

Renault Clio steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Renault Clio. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.05103 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 46,074 MOT tests34 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 57,490 MOT tests5 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 67,679 MOT tests56 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 79,595 MOT tests7 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 86,872 MOT tests78 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 93,733 MOT tests9 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 94,996 MOT tests910 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 87,369 MOT tests11 years: 5.2 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 81,508 MOT tests1112 years: 8.5 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 80,929 MOT tests13 years: 10.5 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 77,920 MOT tests1314 years: 11.5 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 80,142 MOT tests15 years: 12.1 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 84,896 MOT tests1516 years: 11.4 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 77,542 MOT tests17 years: 11.7 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 66,497 MOT tests1718 years: 11.6 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 54,769 MOT tests19 years: 11.4 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 38,848 MOT tests1920 years: 11.7 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 27,004 MOT tests21 years: 10.0 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 18,563 MOT tests2122 years: 9.1 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 11,449 MOT tests23 years: 8.3 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 6,839 MOT tests2324 years: 7.9 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 3,612 MOT tests25 years: 9.0 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 1,794 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Renault Clio All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
346,0740.10.1
457,4900.20.2
567,6790.30.3
679,5950.30.5
786,8720.50.8
893,7330.91.2
994,9961.51.8
1087,3693.32.1
1181,5085.22.5
1280,9298.52.8
1377,92010.52.9
1480,14211.53.2
1584,89612.13.3
1677,54211.43.4
1766,49711.73.6
1854,76911.63.9
19*38,84811.44.1
20*27,00411.74.2
21*18,56310.04.2
22*11,4499.14.0
23*6,8398.33.9
24*3,6127.93.7
25*1,7949.03.7

All first-use years of the Renault Clio pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 9 years

Fails

  • Steering track rod end: ball joint play: 1.2 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 1.0. Replace track rod end: estimated £54–£128 (0.5–1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £15–£50) Track rod end ball joint has excessive play MOT fail

Replace track rod end cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

Buying a Renault Clio? Check that exact car before the viewing.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 1.1 petrol: 1.9 per 100 at 9 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 30,017 MOT tests)
  • 1.5 diesel: 1.5 per 100 at 9 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 32,433 MOT tests)
  • 0.9 petrol: 1.2 per 100 at 9 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.6–0.8×) (all test years; 30,134 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Check one Renault Clio, not the average

The figures here describe Renault Clio cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Renault Clio problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Renault Clio have more steering problems than other cars?

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 94,996 MOT tests).

How common are Renault Clio steering problems?

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years failed on steering, against 1.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 94,996 MOT tests).

What is the most common Renault Clio steering fail?

1.2 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years: Steering track rod end: ball joint play (1,134 MOT tests with it).

At what age do Renault Clio steering fails start?

10 years: from then on the rate stays clear of 1.2 times all class 4 vehicles the same age at every age seen, 799,681 MOT tests.

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 1,326,120 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare