2013 Renault Clio 1.5L Diesel · MV13 FXD

The 2013 Renault Clio passed its most recent MOT on 21 February 2025 at 162,187 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. That test followed a failure on the same day, where both front position lamps were inoperative alongside a catalogue of suspension and braking defects. The pass certificate was issued with multiple advisories rather than a clean bill of health. All four shock absorbers were flagged as corroded and externally damaged, the offside rear unit had reduced damping effect, and both rear brake pipes were corroded and contaminated with grease over the axle. A persistent front oil leak also remains unresolved. These are not minor cosmetic issues. They point to a vehicle whose core mechanical and structural components are deteriorating in parallel. The mileage pattern reinforces that concern. The car has covered roughly 12,476 miles per year on average, which is high for a supermini of this age. Between the March 2023 test at 141,848 miles and the March 2024 test at 151,528 miles, the car added 9,680 miles in twelve months. Then between March 2024 and February 2025, it covered another 10,659 miles in just under eleven months. That is sustained, intensive use, and the MOT record shows the consequences. Wear items such as front brake pads, discs, and front tyres were already flagged as worn or imbalanced in March 2024, and the braking system imbalance was only just meeting minimum standards at that point. With another 10,000 miles since, those components will have degraded further. A buyer should treat the rear brake pipe corrosion as a priority structural concern. Corroded brake lines covered in grease suggest the corrosion has been present for some time and masked rather than properly repaired. The handbrake was only just meeting requirements in March 2023, and no subsequent test has shown that issue resolved. The suspension also demands close inspection. All four shock absorbers have been repeatedly flagged for casing damage and corrosion, and the offside rear damper is now showing reduced damping. Combined with worn front lower suspension arm ball joints and bushes noted in 2024, the front end likely has noticeable play that will affect handling and tyre wear. Beyond the flagged items, the persistent front oil leak warrants investigation to determine whether it is a minor gasket seep or something more significant such as a camshaft seal or oil pressure concern. The repeated registration plate lamp advisories and the 2024 engine MIL fault suggest electrical reliability is also inconsistent. At 162,187 miles with this pattern of recurring defects, the car has clearly been worked hard and maintained reactively rather than preventatively. A thorough on-site inspection of the underside, brake system, and suspension geometry is essential before any purchase decision.