Part of the Renault Clio Mk5 (2019–2024) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2021 Renault Clio: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Renault Clios, from 9,212 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

9,212MOT tests in 2025
85%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
6,500typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for wipers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Renault Clios than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Wipers1.9× usual
    Renault Clio
    7.4% All 2021 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 2.4% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Braking performance2.5× usual
    Renault Clio
    2% All 2021 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

By area

The share of 2021 Renault Clio MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    12% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Lights and electrics
    4% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    3% 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023547Tyres 21%
20227,902Tyres 28%
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%
2000764Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Renault Clios registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score