2015 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · SL15 XKC

The 2015 Renault Clio currently holds a valid MOT pass dated 28 February 2026, yet the maintenance trend over the preceding twelve months is clearly worsening rather than stable. The car failed its 27 February 2026 test on three separate items, including an excessively worn offside front lower suspension arm ball joint, before passing the following day on the same mileage. That pass came with three advisories: front brake discs worn, pitted or scored, front brake pads wearing thin, and an offside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit with inner edge wear. These are not minor consumable notes alone. The suspension ball joint failure points to a genuine structural wear issue, and the repeated front brake and tyre wear pattern suggests the car has not received consistent attention to running gear and braking components. A clean pass in March 2025 at 74,370 miles contrasts sharply with the February 2026 failure, indicating a marked decline in mechanical condition over the last year. The mileage data is sparse but broadly consistent with a car of this age. The 2024 pass at 66,407 miles and the 2025 pass at 74,370 miles represent an annual accumulation of roughly 8,000 miles, which sits within a normal range for a supermini of this vintage. No recorded mileage is available for the 2026 tests, so a precise annual comparison cannot be drawn for the most recent period. The gap itself raises a minor concern, as it prevents confirmation that mileage accumulation has remained steady rather than spiking or being artificially suppressed. A buyer inspecting this Clio in person should focus on the front suspension and braking system first. The failed offside front lower suspension arm ball joint from February 2026 demands close scrutiny of both sides for uneven wear, play, and rubber bush deterioration. Front brake discs showing pitting and scoring, combined with thin pads, mean the entire front braking assembly likely needs replacement rather than a simple pad swap. The offside rear tyre worn on the inner edge is a strong indicator of misalignment or worn rear suspension bushes, so a four-wheel alignment check and inspection of rear beam and trailing arm bushes is advisable. The 2025 failure also flagged a major exhaust leak, insecure exhaust mounting, and a lambda sensor reading outside specified limits, so the exhaust system, particularly the rear section and lambda sensor operation, should be examined for corrosion and secure mounting. Overall, this record points to a car that has slipped from well-maintained into a pattern of deferred mechanical work.