2016 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · SH66 SZF

This 2016 Renault Clio presents a mixed maintenance picture, with the most recent MOT on 12 September 2025 at 41,975 miles passing cleanly with zero defects. That clean bill of health is encouraging, but it sits against a backdrop of recurring suspension and braking faults that suggest previous owners addressed issues reactively rather than through consistent preventative care. The overall trend is one of improvement in the short term, though the underlying pattern of wear items being left until they reach a failure point raises questions about long-term component care. The mileage profile is notably low for a ten-year-old vehicle, averaging roughly 4,198 miles per year. Between the September 2023 test at 28,511 miles and the September 2024 test at 35,459 miles, the car covered approximately 6,948 miles in twelve months, which is a modest but reasonable annual increase. The jump from 35,459 miles in September 2024 to 41,975 miles by September 2025 represents around 6,516 miles in a year, confirming the vehicle has been used regularly rather than sitting idle. No significant mileage gaps or anomalies appear in the record, and the odometer progression reads as consistent and plausible. A buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension and braking components during any in-person inspection. The September 2024 failure flagged excessively worn nearside and offside lower suspension arm ball joints, along with a binding nearside rear service brake and light oil misting from the offside front shock absorber. While the 2025 pass indicates these were addressed, the recurrence of front tyre edge wear appearing in both the 2023 and 2024 tests suggests possible ongoing alignment or suspension geometry issues that may have resurfaced. The September 2025 failure on the same day as the pass, citing a significantly worn front brake disc, is particularly telling. It implies the disc was borderline or already below tolerance at the time of the first test, yet the subsequent pass confirms replacement. This stop-start pattern of repair suggests the braking system has been managed on a fail-and-fix basis rather than through proactive disc and pad replacement. Inspect the front brake discs and pads for uneven wear, check the lower suspension arm boots and ball joints for play or deterioration, and examine the shock absorbers for fresh oil misting. A thorough test drive over uneven surfaces will reveal whether the front end knocks or wanders, which would point to unresolved wear in the suspension linkage.