2009 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · PF06 WEY

A persistent pattern of front-end wear advisories defines the mechanical picture of this Renault Clio, even though every recorded test has returned a pass outcome, with the most recent examination on 5 January 2026 recording no defects at all. The advisories are not random; they recur on closely related components. Track rod end play on the nearside front has appeared in both the 2024 and 2025 tests, while front suspension arm ball joint play on the offside was flagged in 2019 and again in 2020. Front brake disc pitting or scoring was also recorded across the same 2019 and 2020 cycle, indicating the discs had reached a worn but serviceable state at that point and may now be approaching or past the minimum thickness depending on subsequent use. The 2024 test also raised an upper engine oil leak (rear of unit) and a defective rear exhaust mounting, while the 2021 test noted brake fluid approaching its renewal interval. Taken together, the record shows a car that has consistently cleared the MOT threshold but with a stable, recurring theme of wear developing on steering and suspension joints at the front axle. Mileage on this vehicle stands at 91,216 against a 2009 registration, which works out at roughly 5,366 miles per year over its life. That figure is well below the typical annual accumulation for a small hatchback of this age, suggesting either extended periods of light use or intervals where the car was stood idle rather than driven regularly. The MOT history itself is continuous from 2019 onwards with annual tests, so there is no evidence of a long registration lapse, but the low annual mileage still matters mechanically. Seals, bushes and flexible components can deteriorate through lack of use as much as through high mileage, and standing periods followed by short trips can allow moisture to accumulate in the brake hydraulic system, which is consistent with the 2021 advisory noting brake fluid due to be changed. For a prospective buyer, the steering and suspension items flagged over the years should be the focus of any physical inspection. The recurring nearside front track rod end play, last noted in January 2025, warrants a careful check on test drive: listen for clonking or knocking from the front wheels when traversing speed bumps or potholes, and watch for any vagueness or wandering from the steering wheel on the motorway. Similarly, the offside front suspension arm ball joint, last flagged in 2020, should be inspected for play by hand with the wheel lifted if possible, and any harshness or crash through the front suspension over uneven surfaces would suggest the joint or its bush has worsened. Brake pedal feel deserves attention given the 2021 fluid advisory and the 2019/2020 front disc pitting; a soft or spongy pedal, judder under firm braking, or pulling to one side under steady pedal pressure would indicate the discs may now need replacement rather than just cleaning. The 2023 upper oil leak advisory should also be verified by looking for fresh oil staining on the engine and the underside of the bonnet, as a leak that has progressed could affect engine cleanliness and emission performance over time. Beyond the steering, braking and engine items, a few secondary points from the record merit checking during a viewing. The 2024 advisory on both front tyres being worn close to the legal limit and on edge suggests the tracking or camber may be out of specification, and uneven inner or outer shoulder wear on the current tyres should be examined; if the pattern has returned on the replacement set, it points to geometry that has not been corrected. The defective rear exhaust mounting noted in the same test should be inspected by hand for free play in the system, as a broken mount can allow the exhaust to knock against the underbody on bumps and may eventually crack a joint. Finally, given the low annual mileage, the battery and other electrical ancillaries may be nearing the end of their service life, and any hesitation on cold starting or flickering dashboard electrical items would warrant further investigation, particularly as these are not captured in the MOT record itself.