2016 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · RY65 FDF

The 2016 Renault Clio passed its most recent MOT test on 27 August 2026 with no defects or advisories recorded, which is a reassuring immediate indicator of current roadworthiness. However, the broader history reveals a vehicle that has alternated between clean passes and items requiring attention, suggesting a maintenance pattern that is broadly stable but with recurring vulnerabilities rather than a consistently improving or deteriorating trajectory. The 2025 test recorded two advisories relating to the rear exhaust back box and a perished nearside rear tyre, while earlier history shows a CV joint boot failure and a steering rack inner joint play advisory. These recurring entries around rubber components, exhaust integrity, and steering linkage suggest that while the car is being kept roadworthy, it would benefit from proactive inspection of these systems rather than reactive repair at test time. With 71,955 recorded miles over approximately ten years, the Clio is averaging around 7,196 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age in the UK. There are no significant unexplained gaps in the MOT record to suggest long periods of standing, nor does the pattern indicate rapid mileage accumulation that would point to high-mileage drivetrain wear. This average usage profile implies moderate wear across consumables such as brake pads, discs, and clutch components, but also means the vehicle has not been left idle long enough to suffer the worst effects of calendar-based degradation such as severe brake disc corrosion, seized calipers, or perishing of internal rubber components beyond what has already been observed. The relatively even test-to-test progression supports the conclusion that this car has been used consistently and serviced within reasonable intervals. The advisory issued in 2025 for a minor exhaust gas leak at the rear back box weld, while not yet a failure, should be physically inspected before purchase as exhaust leaks tend to progress once started and will eventually result in an MOT failure when they become audible or visible. Listen during a test drive for any ticking, hissing, or tapping noise from beneath the rear of the vehicle, particularly on cold start, and inspect the back box weld area for black soot deposits indicating active leakage. The nearside rear tyre cracking advisory also warrants attention even though it was not repeated in 2026, as tyre sidewall perishing can develop between tests; check all four tyres and the spare for hairline cracks in the sidewall rubber, particularly given the vehicle's age, and verify that replacement tyres are of consistent make, type, and tread depth across the same axle. The earlier steering rack inner joint play advisory from 2022 is a recurring theme that should be investigated on a test drive, as steering rack wear on a Clio of this age is not uncommon and can progress. With the engine running and the vehicle stationary, turn the steering lock to lock and listen for any clonking, knocking, or groaning from the front end, and feel for any notchiness or slack in the steering response when driving over uneven surfaces. The 2023 CV joint boot failure on the offside front has presumably been rectified, but it is prudent to inspect all four driveshaft boots for splits or grease loss, and to verify the repair history with documentation. Given the vehicle's age approaching ten years, a prospective buyer should also check the 12V battery health, the condition and date of the brake fluid and coolant, and the state of the timing belt or chain service history, as these time-based items do not necessarily show in MOT records but are critical to the long-term reliability of a Renault Clio of this vintage.