2009 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · RO59 KTC

The 2009 Renault Clio presents a mixed maintenance picture at 125,815 miles, with a recent MOT pass in September 2025 masking a failure on the same day that reveals underlying neglect. The vehicle failed on 9 September 2025 due to an excessively worn nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, an auxiliary drive belt perished to the point of failure, and an inoperative offside registration plate lamp. Although the same test recorded a pass outcome, the failure entries indicate the tester flagged critical suspension and engine ancillary defects that same morning, suggesting either a retest or inconsistent recording. The auxiliary drive belt condition is particularly concerning; a perished belt risks sudden failure of the power steering, water pump, or alternator drive, leaving the driver without critical system assistance. The nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint wear points to deteriorated front suspension components, likely exacerbated by the recurring nearside front road wheel distortion noted across multiple tests. Front inner brake pads were flagged as wearing thin with an advisory to check within approximately 3,000 miles, meaning by mid-2026 they are likely due for replacement or already worn beyond serviceable limits. The mileage progression tells a story of consistent but moderate use. Between the September 2024 test at 116,769 miles and the September 2025 test at 125,815 miles, the car accumulated 9,046 miles in twelve months, up from the long-term average of roughly 7,401 miles per year. This uptick suggests the vehicle saw heavier recent use, possibly commuting or longer-distance driving, which accelerates wear on consumable items like brake pads, tyres, and suspension bushes. The gap between the 2023 and 2024 tests shows approximately 9,000 miles per year as well, confirming the car has not been sitting idle. No suspicious mileage reversals or large undocumented gaps appear in the record, which supports the odometer reading as broadly credible. Recurring advisories and failures cluster around the front axle and wheel assemblies. The nearside front road wheel has been flagged as slightly distorted on every test since at least September 2023, a persistent defect that suggests either an unrepaired buckle or a substandard replacement wheel. This will cause uneven tyre wear and vibration, and the nearside front tyre has repeatedly been noted as worn to the legal limit or worn on its outer edge, consistent with wheel distortion or misaligned tracking. The nearside front track rod end ball joint showed excessive play in the September 2023 failure, and the nearside steering rack inner joint also exhibited play in the same test, indicating steering wear that may have been partially addressed but not fully resolved. A buyer should have the front suspension, steering rack ends, and track rod ends inspected on a lift, checking for play and perished rubber bushes. The rear axle shows fewer but notable concerns. A defective rear exhaust mounting appeared in the September 2023 failure, and the nearside rear tyre has carried a cut advisory since September 2025. Tyre condition across the car has been borderline at every test, with multiple advisories for tread depth at or near the 1.6mm legal minimum and perishing noted on the offside rear tyre in 2023. This pattern suggests tyre maintenance has been reactive rather than proactive, with replacements likely delayed until the MOT flagged them. The parking brake lever working high, noted in the 2025 tests, indicates stretched cables or uneven adjustment that warrants inspection. Overall, the record reflects a car that has been kept running but with deferred attention to suspension, steering, and ancillaries, a buyer should budget for front-end work and verify the auxiliary drive belt condition before purchase.