2018 Renault Clio 1.5L Diesel · SE18 KCY

The Renault Clio in question presents a mixed but ultimately concerning maintenance history, with the most recent MOT—conducted just eight months ago on 18 September 2025 at 890,010 miles—showing no defects. However, the pattern leading up to this is erratic and raises serious questions about reliability. Two consecutive failures in September 2024 and 2023, both at mileages of 85,033 and 56,585 respectively, occurred without any recorded defects, suggesting either administrative errors or a vehicle that passed minor thresholds by chance. The fact that the car then passed immediately afterward in both instances—at 85,576 and 56,587 miles—implies the issues were either cosmetic, trivial, or resolved without formal documentation. This inconsistency points to a lack of rigorous maintenance oversight, particularly given the extreme mileage accumulation. The mileage figures reveal a vehicle pushed far beyond typical expectations for its age, with 890,010 miles logged in just eight years—an average of over 111,000 miles annually. Such relentless use is unusual and places extraordinary stress on components like suspension bushes, coil springs, brake discs, and drivetrain seals. The rapid accumulation between tests—543 miles in just two days between the 2024 failures—further suggests the car may have been driven continuously without proper checks. The absence of any recorded defects in the passed tests, despite this punishing usage, is either a red flag for undocumented wear or an indication the tester overlooked critical areas. No extended periods of low mileage appear in the record, reinforcing the likelihood of heavy, consistent use rather than sporadic driving. Given the history, a prospective buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of high-wear areas, particularly the suspension system for worn bushes, degraded coil springs, or binding calipers—common failure points under such mileage. The brakes, especially the rear units, warrant close scrutiny, as binding or uneven wear is often missed in cursory MOT checks. Structural integrity should also be assessed, with attention to corrosion in wheel arches, sills, and exhaust mounting points, areas prone to failure in high-mileage vehicles. The absence of recorded defects does not equate to absence of damage; the erratic MOT pattern strongly suggests deferred maintenance or superficial repairs. A pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic is essential to verify the true condition of this heavily used Clio.