2010 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · GJ10 AMX

The 2010 Renault Clio presents a mixed maintenance picture, with the most recent MOT pass on 23 January 2026 at 62,239 miles masking a significant failure just 24 hours earlier. That failure on 22 January 2026 at 62,237 miles revealed a fractured offside front coil spring and a seriously weakened offside front lower Macpherson strut, both of which are critical structural suspension components. The car passed the following day, suggesting repairs were carried out, but the nearside front lower Macpherson strut was still flagged as corroded, and the nearside front tyre remained worn close to the legal limit. The maintenance trend is therefore unstable, with a sudden escalation in suspension failure risk that was only partially addressed before the retest. The mileage pattern is notably low for a 16-year-old vehicle, averaging roughly 3,890 miles per year. Between the February 2025 test at 61,627 miles and the January 2026 tests at 62,237 to 62,239 miles, only approximately 612 miles were covered in nearly 11 months, indicating prolonged periods of inactivity. The gap between the January 2024 test at 60,942 miles and February 2025 at 61,627 miles shows a similarly modest accumulation of 685 miles over 13 months. Such low annual usage can mask deferred maintenance, as components deteriorate from age and corrosion rather than mileage alone. The recurring theme across the record is front suspension corrosion and structural degradation. The offside front Macpherson strut mounting was flagged as corroded in February 2025, then escalated to seriously weakened by January 2026 alongside a broken coil spring. A buyer should have the front suspension thoroughly inspected, paying close attention to both Macpherson strut lower sections, coil spring seatings, and the condition of the opposite-side components that may now be similarly compromised. The rear exhaust mounting has also failed twice, in January 2024 and January 2026, suggesting a persistent issue with exhaust hangers or box mounting points that warrants under-vehicle inspection. Brake wear has been a consistent minor concern, with front pads and discs flagged as wearing thin or pitted in both January 2024 tests. While these are consumable items, the fact that they were noted across both the failure and pass on the same date suggests wear was borderline and may have since been addressed. A buyer should verify the current condition of front brake pads, discs, and the nearside front tyre, which was worn to the legal limit in January 2026 and may not have been replaced. The fractured coil spring also caused structural damage to the offside front inner tyre, so both front tyres should be closely examined for sidewall damage or irregular wear patterns.