2009 Renault Clio 1.5L Diesel · GL09 FDU

A pattern of tyre-related advisories dominates the MOT history of this 2009 Renault Clio, alongside some notable chassis and safety defects that have surfaced over recent tests. The most recent examination on 14 August 2026 resulted in a pass with a single advisory concerning perishing on the offside rear tyre, but this sits within a broader pattern where the same offside rear tyre has been flagged for cracking or perishing at every test since 2024, suggesting either chronic ageing of the rubber compound or repeated fitment of a tyre of similar age and quality. More serious findings emerged during the 2024 test, where a failed windscreen washer system and a perished anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover were recorded as majors, and a dangerous nearside rear tyre tread depth below 1.6mm caused a failure at the 2025 retest. A front sub-frame pin or bush was also noted as worn in 2025, indicating the beginning of chassis component fatigue typical for a vehicle of this age. The recorded mileage of 90,452 miles across roughly seventeen years equates to an annual accumulation of approximately 5,321 miles, which is notably low for a car of this vintage. This restrained usage pattern will have reduced wear on major drivetrain items and the engine internals, but it carries the usual implications for a lightly used vehicle: standing periods can accelerate the degradation of rubber components, underbody corrosion protection, brake disc surface corrosion, and the drying out of less frequently replaced consumables. The advisories recorded dovetail with this profile, as the tyre perishing, sub-frame bush wear, and perished anti-roll bar dust cover are all consistent with age-related polymer and rubber deterioration rather than high-mileage mechanical fatigue. There are no significant gaps in the testing record that would suggest prolonged lay-up, so the advisories reflect gradual in-service ageing rather than a vehicle that has been standing for extended intervals. Buyers should be mindful, however, that a low annual mileage combined with repeated tyre cracking advisories indicates the rubber may not be receiving regular replacement as part of a maintenance routine. Given the recurring advisories on the offside rear tyre, a prospective purchaser should carry out a close visual inspection of all four tyres for sidewall cracking, bulges, and uneven shoulder wear, paying particular attention to the inner edges of the front tyres, which were flagged in 2025 as worn on the outer and inner edges respectively. Such uneven wear patterns can point to misalignment, worn suspension geometry, or compromised bushes, and on a test drive any tracking pull to one side, wandering steering, or uneven braking response should be taken seriously. The front sub-frame bush wear advisory warrants particular attention: with the vehicle on a ramp or over a pit, look for any free play or movement at the front subframe mounting points, and listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end when traversing speed bumps or uneven road surfaces, which would suggest the bush has deteriorated beyond the notional advisory threshold since the last test. The major defect recorded in 2024 concerning the offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover is a clear indicator that the anti-roll bar drop links and their ball joints require a thorough physical check. With the wheels unloaded, the drop links should be examined for perished or split boots, and the ball joints themselves should be checked for any play by hand; on the road, listen for a metallic rattle over rough surfaces, particularly from the front end, as this is a classic symptom of worn anti-roll bar linkages. The failed windscreen washer system recorded in 2024 should also be verified as functional, as it remains a straightforward reason for an MOT failure if not rectified. Finally, given the age of the vehicle, a careful inspection of the underbody for corrosion, particularly around suspension mounting points, subframe seams, and brake lines, would be prudent, even though no such advisories have yet been recorded on the MOT history.