2002 Renault Clio 1.4L Petrol · EY52 FLW

A 2002 Renault Clio returning a MOT pass on 15 November 2023, after a failure the day before, illustrates a borderline roadworthiness record dominated by front suspension wear and a serious rear wheel bearing issue. Across the documented tests from 2017 to 2023, only the 2022 and 2021 entries show meaningful defects, and these cluster tightly around the front axle. Both nearside and offside front Macpherson strut top mount pins or bushes were flagged as worn in 2022, having not been raised the previous year, and the offside front shock absorber was noted in 2021 with light oil misting. The most recent test, although recorded as a pass, immediately followed a dangerous failure for excessive offside rear wheel bearing play, so the rebound from that result should be treated cautiously. The persistent reappearance of the rear registration plate deterioration advisory across three consecutive tests suggests a long-standing cosmetic issue rather than a mechanical one, but the recurrence of front strut advisories on the same axle over successive years is the more telling mechanical pattern in this file. With recorded mileage of 42,665 miles over approximately 24 years, annual accumulation sits at roughly 1,778 miles, which is exceptionally low for the age and likely reflects extended periods of standing rather than regular driving. The MOT record confirms this pattern indirectly, with large gaps between tests and only seven entries spread across the period shown. Standing periods of this length are particularly relevant to a Clio of this era because they tend to accelerate drying and cracking of rubber components such as suspension bushes, drive shaft boots, and engine mountings, and they allow brake discs to corrode on the rubbing surfaces. The fact that the most heavily flagged components in the record are rubber-bushed suspension items and a wheel bearing is therefore consistent with the kind of age-related deterioration that low use tends to promote, rather than high-mileage wear. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas to examine on a physical inspection are the front strut top mount assemblies and the rear wheel bearing that caused the 2023 dangerous failure. The Macpherson strut pin or bush wear advisories on both sides in 2022 mean that on a test drive any clonking, rattling, or knocking from the front suspension when traversing speed humps or potholes, together with vagueness in the steering around the straight-ahead position, should be treated as evidence that the top mount assemblies now require replacement. The strut oil misting noted on the offside front in 2021 also warrants a check for dampness or staining around the shock absorber body, and a bounce test at each front corner should be carried out with the vehicle settled to confirm the dampers still control rebound firmly. The offside rear wheel bearing, having been declared dangerous for excessive play in late 2023, demands an on-the-roller or jacked-up check for roughness, humming that rises with speed, or lateral movement in the hub; if any of these are present, a replacement should be negotiated into any purchase. Several secondary items recorded over the years also deserve attention. The front tyres were flagged in 2021 for inner-edge wear down to around 2.8 and 2.9 mm on both sides, which on a Clio typically points to worn suspension geometry or simply aged rubber compounds, and any current tyres showing uneven inner-edge wear or sidewall cracking should be regarded as overdue for replacement. The minor windscreen damage noted in 2022, although not considered to obstruct the driver's view, should be inspected to ensure it has not extended into the driver's primary sightline or worsened. The battery insecure advisories in both 2021 and 2023 indicate a recurring issue with the battery clamp and carrier, and a brief check that the battery is firmly held and that the terminals are clean is worthwhile given the dual flagging. Finally, given the likelihood of long standing periods, it is sensible to verify that the brake discs are free of severe corrosion ridges on the faces and that the handbrake holds firmly, as these are common consequences of low-mileage, intermittent use on vehicles of this vintage.