2014 Renault Clio 0.9L Petrol · WK14 KUG

A pattern of front-end wear dominates the mechanical story of this 2014 Renault Clio, with the most recent MOT on 17 November 2025 passing but carrying three advisories that point to ongoing attention required in that area. Front tyres were again flagged as worn close to the legal limit and showing inner-edge wear on both sides, continuing a trend visible across multiple tests: an offside front tyre was failed as dangerous in March 2022 for tread depth below 1.6mm, while the nearside front was noted at 2.3mm on the same test. The disc condition recorded in 2022 pitted or scored on both front items has not been re-flagged since, which may reflect replacement rather than complete recovery, but the brake pipe advisories in 2025 and the binding offside rear service brake introduce fresh concerns about the hydraulic and mechanical state of the braking system. Overall the trend is mixed: the two most recent tests passed cleanly with only advisories, but the underlying components have a recurring history that warrants close physical inspection. Covering 104,215 miles over roughly twelve years equates to an average accumulation of around 8,685 miles per year, which sits comfortably within typical expectations for a car of this age and does not suggest either prolonged standing or unusually heavy use. The testing record is unusually dense, with eight entries between March 2020 and November 2025, reflecting the annual MOT cycle rather than any irregularity. The March 2022 test followed shortly after the April 2022 pass, indicating a quick return after the dangerous failure rather than a long period off the road, and the consistent year-on-year presence confirms the vehicle has been in regular service. From a mechanical standpoint this level of sustained mileage places proportional demand on suspension components, wheel bearings, clutch wear if manual, and exhaust mounting integrity, all of which are worth probing on inspection. For the braking system specifically, the offside front brake pipe covered in grease or other material flagged in November 2025 is a concern because masking corrosion with a coating is a common reason for an advisory rather than a deeper structural finding. On inspection, look for any dampness, staining, or visible rust weeping along the brake pipe runs, particularly along the underside of the vehicle and around any pipe clips; check the offside rear caliper for sticking by confirming the wheel rotates freely when released and that the brake returns cleanly without any residual drag. A binding caliper left unchecked accelerates pad and disc wear on that corner and can cause the vehicle to pull under braking. The tyres showing inner-edge wear suggest the geometry may be drifting, so inspect the front suspension arms, bushes, and wishbone mounting points for cracking, perishing, or play, and feel for any wandering or pulling under straight-line driving that could indicate alignment issues stemming from worn components rather than adjustment. The drive shaft boot failure recorded in March 2022 on the offside front outer joint is worth verifying has been properly remedied. On a test drive, listen for any clicking or knocking from the front wheels during full lock turns, particularly at low speed, which would indicate CV joint deterioration or grease loss. The dipped beam headlamp failure on the offside unit in the same test should have been rectified, but check both headlamps function on main and dipped beam, and inspect the headlamp lenses for any clouding that would compromise output at MOT retest. Finally, with the mileage and age profile, listen for any clonking over speed bumps or uneven surfaces from the front strut mounts and top mounts, as the cumulative effect of regular urban mileage typically shows first in the suspension top mount bearings and front coil springs on this generation of Clio.