2007 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · SP07 VVB

The most recent DVSA MOT test, conducted on 17 December 2021, resulted in a Pass, though the vehicle carries three advisories relating to brake pipe corrosion on the nearside front, offside front-to-rear, and offside rear lines, all covered in grease or similar material. These advisories sit alongside a separate test on the same date which recorded Major failures for a fractured offside front coil spring, excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint, excessive play in the nearside front track rod end ball joint, and an insecure rear exhaust system. The pattern across recent years is one of progressive and repeated suspension, braking, and underbody corrosion concerns, with three separate test events between 2018 and 2021 producing failed assessments, including two Dangerous defects for a seriously weakened front brake disc and dangerously thin brake pads in 2020, and a likely-to-detach lower suspension ball joint in 2019. Taken together, the maintenance trend is worsening rather than stable, with each annual test consistently flagging wear items consistent with a high-mileage, ageing chassis rather than isolated incidents. The recorded mileage of 114,388 miles over approximately nineteen years equates to an annual average of around 6,020 miles, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age. There are, however, notable gaps in the MOT history, with no recorded tests between 2014 and 2018, and again between 2021 and the present day, which suggests periods of irregular use, possible SORN status, or simply missed tests. Even at a typical annual figure, a nineteen-year-old Clio will have accumulated substantial wear on its consumables, braking system, suspension bushes, coil springs, and rubber components, and the absence of recent mileage data means the current mechanical state of wear-related items cannot be reliably inferred from the DVSA record alone. Any prospective buyer should treat the mileage as a minimum and verify it through the service book and V5C records before drawing conclusions about usage intensity. Given the recurring defects, particular attention should be paid to the suspension and braking systems during a physical inspection and test drive. The fractured coil spring and worn ball joint failures indicate that the front suspension has been reaching the end of its service life, and a buyer should listen for clonking or knocking noises over speed humps and uneven surfaces, watch for uneven or inner-edge tyre wear suggesting geometry or component wear, and physically check the coil springs for cracks or breaks and the anti-roll bar linkages and track rod ends for any free play by hand with the wheels lifted. The 2020 brake defects, including a seriously weakened front disc, dangerously thin pads, and binding brake on the offside front in 2018, mean the brake discs, pads, calipers, and handbrake mechanism should be thoroughly inspected for disc lipping, pad thickness, seized caliper slide mechanisms, and correct handbrake reserve travel, with any brake shudder or pulling under braking taken as a prompt for immediate rectification. The persistent brake pipe and fuel pipe corrosion advisories across the 2020 and 2021 tests are particularly significant on a nineteen-year-old vehicle, as surface corrosion of underbody steel lines tends to progress once initiated and can eventually lead to fluid leaks and MOT failure under the strict corrosion scoring rules. A buyer should have the underbody inspected on a ramp for the condition of the brake and fuel lines, the exhaust system mounting points and hangers given the 2021 insecure exhaust failure, and the rear silencer and joints checked for blowing or corrosion. Beyond the recorded defects, age-appropriate checks should include tyre sidewalls for perishing or cracking from age regardless of tread depth, the 12V battery for holding charge given likely long standing periods, brake fluid and coolant for time-based degradation, the cambelt and water pump replacement history for the 1.2 or 1.4 petrol engines typical of this model, and verification that the service book contains stamps at the correct intervals to confirm routine maintenance has actually been carried out between MOTs.