Used car guide

2003 Renault Clio: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Renault Clios, from 3,850 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,850MOT tests in 2025
52%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
3,800typical miles a year
5.3×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link bushes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Renault Clios than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes5.3× usual
    Renault Clio
    10.6% All 2003 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.5% of all 2003 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 rack4.8× usual
    Renault Clio
    8.2% All 2003 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 0.9% of all 2003 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.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes5.8× usual
    Renault Clio
    5.8% All 2003 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

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

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints1.7× usual
    Renault Clio
    11.1% All 2003 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 2.9% of all 2003 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.

  • Airbag warning light3.8× usual
    Renault Clio
    5.7% All 2003 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 1.3% of all 2003 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

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.9% here, against 8.7% of all 2003 cars. Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 1.6% here, against 6.6% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Renault Clio MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    51% 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
    46% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    34% 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.

  • Brakes
    31% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    22% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    15% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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%
20022,541Suspension 48%
20011,506Suspension 46%
2000764Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Renault Clios registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score