2016 Renault Clio 0.9L Petrol · OV66 HRL

The defining feature of this Renault Clio's MOT record is not chronic structural decay or a cascade of brake or suspension failures, but rather a short, sparse testing window covering only three annual tests between 2024 and 2026. The very latest outcome on 4 August 2026 reveals a close call: the vehicle initially failed on an exhaust emission issue stemming from a sealed exhaust leak at the nearside rear, but passed on the same date once the repair had brought emissions back within the prescribed limits. The earlier test from September 2025 similarly shows a failed and passed entry on the same day, caused by an incorrectly fitted offside front headlamp bulb producing an obviously incorrect beam image. Taken together, the trend is one of immediate rectification rather than escalating mechanical deterioration, with both 2024 and 2025 also producing clean passes with no recorded advisories at all. The one advisory currently noted is for a brake pedal rubber wearing smooth, a minor but worthwhile observation rather than a defect that caused failure. With a recorded mileage of 93,202 miles on a 2016 vehicle, the Clio is accumulating roughly 9,300 miles per year, which sits comfortably within the typical band for a car of its age and class. There are no obvious gaps or sudden jumps in the mileage data across the three recorded tests, suggesting continuous, ordinary use rather than extended periods off the road or an unusually high-mileage working life. That said, at this accumulated mileage the consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, clutch and exhaust mounting rubbers will have already been through multiple replacement cycles, and the next twelve months are likely to bring further wear-related advisories on components that have now reached the back end of their service life. For a prospective buyer, the two specific items flagged in this record should drive a focused inspection. The sealed exhaust leak at the nearside rear is worth a physical check underneath the car, looking for any signs of fresh soot around the repaired joint, listening for a tick on a cold start, and feeling for escaping gases with a gloved hand near the joint, as a temporary seal can fail again within a short space of time. On the road, watch for any increase in engine noise under load or any smell of exhaust fumes inside the cabin, both of which would suggest the repair has not held. The smooth brake pedal advisory is a separate concern worth taking seriously on a test drive: the loss of grip on the pedal rubber can lengthen stopping distances in an emergency, particularly in wet conditions, so the pedal should feel secure and textured underfoot. If it feels polished or slippery, replacement of the pedal rubber is a small but sensible immediate job. Beyond the documented items, a buyer should run through the usual checks expected of a Clio approaching a decade old with this mileage, paying particular attention to the suspension and braking components that frequently appear on older examples of this model. Listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which can indicate worn anti-roll bar drop links, top mounts or wishbone bushes, and feel for any pulling to one side under braking that might point to a binding caliper or a warped front disc. The rear brake drums, if fitted, should be inspected for wear ridges on the shoes and any signs of oil contamination from the rear axle seals. Finally, a thorough underbody inspection for any surface corrosion on subframe and suspension mounting points is advisable, given that the limited MOT history cannot reveal issues that have not yet developed to the point of being testable.