2003 Renault Clio 1.4L Petrol · XM53 NJM

The vehicle currently holds a valid MOT, but the history reveals a pattern of reactive maintenance rather than proactive care. While the most recent test in September 2025 at 67,901 miles passed, it followed a significant failure just two weeks prior. The trend shows a recurring cycle where components are only addressed after failing a formal inspection. The persistent issue with the supplementary restraint system warning lamp, which failed in both 2024 and 2025, suggests a lingering safety-related fault that was ignored until forced into repair. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a 23-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 3,000 miles per year. However, the data shows a jump of over 5,000 miles between August 2024 and August 2025, followed by another 4,000 miles in the year. This low usage often correlates with the degradation of rubber components rather than mechanical wear. The record of perishing and cracking tyres across 2023 and 2025 indicates that the rubber is likely failing due to age and dryness despite having sufficient tread depth. A buyer must inspect the front suspension assembly closely, as the offside front ball joint and both anti-roll bar linkages showed excessive wear in late 2025. The repeated mentions of distorted road wheels on multiple axles suggest the vehicle may have suffered significant impacts or deep potholes, which could have compromised the wheel bearings or suspension geometry. Furthermore, the airbag and belt tensioner system must be verified by a technician to ensure the warning lamp was actually rectified, as this fault persisted across two consecutive years of testing.