2013 Renault Clio 0.9L Petrol · MV13 FXJ

The vehicle remains roadworthy, but the maintenance trend shows a recurring pattern of deferred repairs regarding suspension and rubber components. The latest test in January 2026 at 74,085 miles passed despite advisories for both front anti-roll bar linkage ball joints and a worn offside front tyre. This follows a failure in January 2024 where the front suspension arm ball joints were flagged as being excessively worn. While the car is currently legal, the persistence of play issues suggests that components are only replaced once they reach a point of inspection failure. At thirteen years old, the recorded mileage of 74,085 miles represents an average of approximately 5,700 miles per year, which is significantly below the national average. The data shows a consistent low usage pattern, with roughly 3,600 miles driven between January 2025 and January 2026. However, the low mileage often correlates with material degradation rather than mechanical wear. This is evidenced by the January 2023 advisory at 67,131 miles where the tester noted all four tyres were cracking or perishing despite likely having sufficient tread depth. A buyer should specifically inspect the front suspension assembly, as the history of worn ball joints and anti-roll bar links indicates these are known weak points on this vehicle. The steering rack inner joints noted in 2023 should be re-checked to ensure the play has not worsened since then. Given the age of the car and the low mileage, a thorough check of rubber bushings, wiper blades, and tyre sidewalls is essential as these parts show signs of dry rot and premature cracking. The recurring advisories for tyres worn close to the legal limit across three consecutive years also suggest the owner waits to replace them only when absolutely necessary.