2016 Renault Clio 1.5L Diesel · DV66 VLC

The vehicle presented a Pass at its most recent DVSA MOT test on 7 November 2025, with two advisories noted concerning the rear tyres. However, the broader maintenance trend across the recorded history raises legitimate concerns. The 2022 test cycle alone recorded a Fail with multiple Major and Dangerous defects, including an inoperative engine management indicator lamp, incorrect headlamp aim, an excessively worn front suspension arm ball joint, and a dangerously exposed tyre cord. While the car has subsequently returned to test fitness on three later occasions, the accumulation of tyre wear advisories every year, persistent suspension arm bush wear advisories from 2023, and recurring rear tyre perishing all point to a pattern of deterioration rather than stable upkeep. The defect profile suggests that while the vehicle is currently roadworthy, it has required continual attention to tyre condition and front suspension wear items, and any prospective buyer should not treat the present Pass as evidence of uniformly sound maintenance. With recorded mileage of 81,531 miles over an approximately ten-year period, the annual usage of around 8,150 miles is broadly typical for the age and consistent with ordinary commuter patterns. There are no significant mileage gaps in the recorded history that would suggest prolonged periods of standing, which would otherwise raise concerns about brake disc corrosion, binding calipers, and 12V battery degradation. Equally, the mileage is not at a level associated with major drivetrain fatigue on a Renault Clio of this generation. The mechanical implications of this mileage band centre on normal wear of consumables and suspension items, and indeed the recorded defects align closely with what one would expect at this odometer reading, particularly with regard to tyre life, suspension bushes, and joint wear. The most significant recurring concern in the MOT history is the front suspension. The 2022 test recorded a Major failure for an excessively worn nearside front lower suspension arm ball joint, and the 2023 test subsequently flagged advisories on both the nearside and offside front suspension arm rear bushes. On a test drive, the buyer should listen carefully for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over uneven road surfaces, speed humps, and when turning at low speed into car parks or kerbs. Slack or vague steering response, uneven or scalloped front tyre wear on the inner or outer edges, and any visible grease weeping from the ball joint or bush boots would all suggest that further suspension work is imminent. It would be prudent to have the front suspension inspected on a ramp prior to purchase and to budget for replacement of the lower arms or bushes if clear movement is found. Tyre condition is the second recurring theme and warrants particular attention given the pattern of inner-edge wear and rear-tyre perishing recorded across multiple tests. The 2022 Dangerous defect for an exposed ply on the offside front tyre, combined with subsequent advisories for inner-edge wear, suggests either persistent geometry misalignment, worn suspension contributing to uneven loading, or simply neglected rotation and replacement. On inspection, all four tyres should be examined for tread depth across the full width, sidewall cracking or perishing, and any uneven wear patterns indicating camber or tracking issues. Additionally, given the vehicle is now ten years old, the buyer should verify that the timing belt or cam-belt has been replaced in line with the Renault service schedule, confirm recent replacement of brake fluid and coolant to mitigate calendar-based degradation, check the 12V battery for adequate cranking performance, and inspect the rear brake calipers and discs for corrosion or seizing if the car has been stood for any extended period. A full service history stamp verification and a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified technician would be strongly advisable given the recorded defect pattern.