Part of the Renault Clio Mk3 (2005–2012) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2005 Renault Clio: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Renault Clios, from 7,277 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

7,277MOT tests in 2025
50%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
4,400typical miles a year
6.3×the usual rate for anti-roll bar link bushes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Renault Clios than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes6.3× usual
    Renault Clio
    10.7% All 2005 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.4% of all 2005 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 rack6.1× usual
    Renault Clio
    9.8% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7%, against 0.9% of all 2005 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.

  • Track rod ends1.9× usual
    Renault Clio
    11.5% All 2005 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 2.6% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

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

  • Airbag warning light3.4× usual
    Renault Clio
    5.4% All 2005 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 1.5% of all 2005 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.

  • Wheels2.7× usual
    Renault Clio
    4.6% All 2005 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.5% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 4.4% here, against 10.7% of all 2005 cars. Sub-frame: 1.8% here, against 6.8% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 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
    49% 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
    33% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    16% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    16% 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.

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Valve recall (early 1.2)
    1.2 petrol

    Early 1.2 petrols were recalled for valve parts that could destroy the engine.

    At the viewing: Ask a Renault dealer to check the VIN.

    Source: Haynes: Renault Clio Mk3 common problems

  • Surging idle and stalling
    Petrol

    A dirty throttle body makes the idle rise and fall, with stalling and slow starting. It's a cheap fix.

    At the viewing: Let it idle and watch the rev counter.

    Source: Haynes: Renault Clio Mk3 common problems

  • Squeal from the alternator
    All engines

    A chirp on start-up is often a worn alternator pulley or a failing alternator.

    At the viewing: Listen when the engine starts.

    If it needs doing: Alternator, about £150–£400. ClickMechanic

    Source: Haynes: Renault Clio Mk3 common problems

  • Heavy steering and front knocks
    All engines

    Worn front strut top bushes make the steering heavy and knock over bumps.

    At the viewing: Feel the steering and listen over bumps.

    Source: Haynes: Renault Clio Mk3 common problems

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%
20045,932Suspension 51%
20033,850Suspension 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 2005 Renault Clios registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score