2017 Renault Clio 0.9L Petrol · MA67 FEF

The 2017 Renault Clio presents a stable and improving mechanical picture as of its most recent MOT on 27 August 2025, where it passed cleanly at 34,966 miles with zero defects. The maintenance trend is clearly positive. A recurring front suspension issue flagged in September 2023 appears to have been addressed, and the subsequent two tests show no further deterioration. This suggests a responsible owner who rectified a known fault rather than ignoring it. The mileage profile is notably low for a nine-year-old vehicle. The car has covered just 34,966 miles since new, averaging roughly 3,885 miles per year. Between the September 2022 test at 23,394 miles and the September 2023 test at 28,143 miles, the car accumulated approximately 4,749 miles in twelve months. From September 2023 to August 2025, it added only 6,823 miles over nearly two years, indicating a marked drop in usage or a period of very light driving. Such low annual mileage means consumable wear is minimal, though extended periods of inactivity can cause its own issues, including brake surface corrosion, perished rubber bushes, and flat-spotted tyres. The key historical fault centres on the offside front lower suspension arm ball joint. In the failed test of 12 September 2023 at 28,143 miles, the tester recorded the joint as excessively worn under section 5.3.4 (a) (i). On the same day, a retest passed with only slight play noted on that same joint, indicating a repair or partial replacement was carried out. The September 2024 test at 31,871 miles flagged slight play again, suggesting the component may have been marginal or a related bush was beginning to wear. By August 2025, no suspension defects were recorded at all. A buyer should still inspect the front suspension carefully in person. Check the offside front lower arm ball joint and its associated track rod end for any play or perished rubber boots. Examine the nearside components for symmetrical wear, as one-sided failures often indicate a road impact rather than general deterioration. Given the low mileage and long periods of limited use, also assess the brake discs for surface corrosion, the tyre sidewalls for age-related cracking even with good tread depth, and the exhaust system for moisture-induced corrosion in the silencer. The MOT record is reassuring, but a physical inspection of these specific areas will confirm whether the car has been genuinely well maintained or merely kept off the road.