2014 Renault Clio 1.5L Diesel · LS64 YBJ

The 2014 Renault Clio passed its most recent MOT on 29 September 2025 at 105,773 miles, but the record reveals a maintenance trend that is stable at best and quietly worsening in key areas. The car has never failed an MOT, yet the advisory and minor defect pattern across the last five tests shows persistent, unresolved wear in the braking and suspension systems rather than a clean bill of health. The most recent test flagged binding rear service brakes on both sides, corroded front brake discs, corroded rear coil springs on both sides, play in the nearside steering rack inner joint, and low effort on the offside rear service and parking brake. These are not isolated one-offs. They are recurring items that suggest the previous owner kept the car legal but did not address underlying deterioration. The mileage progression is consistent and unremarkable for a 12-year-old small hatchback. The car covered roughly 1,200 to 1,350 miles per year between October 2021 and October 2024, then recorded no further MOT until September 2025, when it appeared at 105,773 miles. That gap of nearly a year without a recorded test is worth noting. It could reflect a period of low use, a lapsed MOT, or a test conducted outside the DVSA digital record. The annual mileage of around 8,800 miles overall is typical and does not suggest excessive wear, but it also means the flagged corrosion and mechanical wear are age-related as well as use-related. The rear braking system is the most consistent concern. Binding rear service brakes appeared in 2022, 2023, and again in 2025, with the 2025 test also noting low effort on the offside rear parking brake. Combined with corroded front brake discs flagged in 2023 and 2025, this points to a braking system that has been operating with compromised components for at least three years. A buyer should have the rear calipers, handbrake cables, and rear brake hardware inspected for seizure or uneven operation, and the front discs and pads measured for thickness and condition. The corroded rear coil springs, noted in both 2023 and 2025, are a structural concern. Corrosion at the base of a coil spring can lead to sudden fracture, particularly on a car of this age. Both rear springs should be closely examined for section loss and cracking, and the suspension mounting points checked for rust jacking. The steering rack inner joint play, flagged on the nearside in 2024 and again in 2025, along with offside play noted in 2024, indicates progressive wear in the rack assembly. The 2024 report noted the nearside joint was heavily worn but covered by a gaiter, meaning the joint may have been contaminated or dry for some time. A physical inspection should include a check for knocking over uneven surfaces and assessment of the rack boots for splits or grease loss. The undertrays fitted across multiple tests obscure visual inspection of the subframe and floor pan, so a buyer should request their removal to check for corrosion or accident damage. Overall, the car appears roadworthy on paper, but the pattern of recurring brake, suspension, and steering advisories suggests deferred maintenance that a careful buyer will want to verify in person before committing.