Used car guide

2000 Renault Clio: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2000 Renault Clios, from 764 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

764MOT tests in 2025
52%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 63%)
3,000typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for exhaust system

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2000 Renault Clios than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Exhaust system2.3× usual
    Renault Clio
    22.5% All 2000 cars
    9.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 2.5% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes4.5× usual
    Renault Clio
    13.5% All 2000 cars
    3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 0.6% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Steering rack4.4× usual
    Renault Clio
    9.6% All 2000 cars
    2.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 1.3% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.2× usual
    Renault Clio
    12% All 2000 cars
    5.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 2.3% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Brake lights2.5× usual
    Renault Clio
    10.6% All 2000 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 3.3% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 6.8% here, against 16.7% of all 2000 cars. Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 3% here, against 8.2% of all 2000 cars.

By area

The share of 2000 Renault Clio MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    41% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    35% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    29% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    26% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    16% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Renault Clio?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023547Tyres 21%
20227,902Tyres 28%
20219,212Tyres 29%
202010,817Tyres 32%
201917,257Tyres 40%
201819,747Tyres 38%
201719,259Tyres 37%
201622,290Tyres 37%
201523,953Brakes 42%
201425,890Brakes 45%
201319,702Brakes 43%
201213,942Suspension 50%
201116,314Suspension 51%
201021,343Suspension 51%
200914,741Suspension 51%
200813,524Suspension 53%
200716,133Suspension 53%
200611,743Suspension 51%
20057,277Suspension 51%
20045,932Suspension 51%
20033,850Suspension 51%
20022,541Suspension 48%
20011,506Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2000 Renault Clios registered in 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score