2016 Renault Clio 1.5L Diesel · DU66 NZZ

The 2016 Renault Clio presents a mixed maintenance picture despite holding a current MOT pass issued on 3 January 2026 at 121,604 miles. The most recent test was clean of major mechanical failures, yet it still flagged a nearside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit and an offside rear child seat preventing full inspection of the adult belt. This pattern indicates the car remains roadworthy today, but the overall maintenance trend is one of recurring minor neglect rather than serious structural deterioration. Suspension and brake faults that dominated earlier tests appear to have been addressed ahead of the 2025 and 2026 passes, suggesting some corrective work was carried out, though the underlying care history reveals a vehicle that has required repeated attention to front-end components and consumables. At roughly 12,160 miles per year, the recorded mileage is high for a ten-year-old supermini, pointing to sustained use rather than long periods of inactivity. The mileage progression shows steady accumulation: 108,057 miles in December 2023, 108,059 miles in January 2024, 115,434 miles in January 2025, and 121,604 miles in January 2026. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden drops, confirming the odometer reading is consistent and the vehicle has been driven regularly. The high annual mileage places greater stress on suspension bushes, brake discs, tyres, and drivetrain boots, which aligns with the faults repeatedly surfaced in the MOT record. Buyers should focus their physical inspection on the front suspension and steering components, as these areas have historically drawn the most advisories. The January 2024 failure at 108,206 miles flagged excessively worn nearside and offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, an excessively worn offside front suspension arm ball joint, and deteriorated track rod end ball joint dust covers. Although the subsequent passes suggest replacements were made, a thorough check for play in these joints and the condition of any new dust covers remains essential. The front brake discs were noted as worn, pitted, or scored in both January 2024 tests, and front brake pads were found below 1.5 mm at the time of failure. Inspect disc thickness and pad life carefully, as high-mileage use accelerates wear. The constant velocity boots on both sides of the front driveshaft were split and insecure in both December 2023 and January 2024, allowing dirt ingress. This is a critical durability issue that can lead to joint failure if left unrepaired. Verify whether these boots have been replaced and examine the joints for clicking or roughness on full lock. Tyre condition has been a recurring advisory, with nearside and offside rear and front tyres repeatedly flagged as worn close to the legal limit or below 1.6 mm. Uneven wear patterns, particularly edge wear noted in the 2026 test, may hint at alignment or suspension geometry issues that warrant a four-wheel alignment check. While the Clio passed its most recent MOT, the history of front-end wear and repeated minor advisories underscores the need for a careful, hands-on inspection before purchase.