2007 Renault Clio 1.1L Petrol · YP07 HHY

A nineteen year old Clio carrying a recurring pattern of lamp-related defects is the defining theme of this MOT history, supported by two outright structural and safety failures that have surfaced since 2018. The 2023 test illustrates this directly, with a fail recorded on the same day as a pass, the only items called being front position lamps, offside rear position lamp, rear registration plate lamp, and offside rear stop lamp, all classed as PRs (present and correct type defects easily remedied). Two years earlier in 2022 the situation was more serious, as the same car failed on identical rear lamp items but also carried a Dangerous rear tyre defect with ply or cords exposed on both rear tyres, an item that alone would render the car illegal and unsafe to drive away from the test. Underlying that, a fractured offside rear coil spring was logged as a Major failure in 2019, meaning a primary suspension load-bearing component had broken in service, and the same 2022 test recorded an oil leak (not excessive) along with front brake discs noted as pitted and scored. Interleaved with these failures are clean passes in 2021 and 2019 with no defects, which prevents the record from being described as uniformly poor, but the cumulative evidence points to electrical lamp faults that have reappeared across separate test cycles and suspension or tyre failures that have demanded immediate corrective work. Against an age of roughly nineteen years, the recorded 71,292 miles equates to about 3,752 miles per year, which is low for a Clio of this generation and well below typical annual usage for a car that has remained on the road. The MOT history begins in 2018 and shows a visible gap, as there is no test recorded for 2020, so the mileage progression between the documented readings cannot be fully traced and the gap may reflect either reduced use or administrative lapse rather than continuous operation. Mechanically, low annual mileage reduces wear on the engine, clutch and gearbox internals, but it does not insulate the car from the exact faults recorded here, as rubber components, suspension springs, electrical contacts and brake discs all degrade with calendar age and standing time regardless of mileage accumulation. A prospective buyer should treat the lamp defects not as isolated blown bulbs but as evidence of a wiring or connector fault pattern that may recur, so each front position lamp, both rear position lamps, the registration plate lamp and the offside rear stop lamp should be physically inspected and operated in person at the viewing to confirm reliable function, not merely assumed on the basis that the car drove to the appointment. On the road, listen for any clonking or complaint from the rear suspension over bumps, particularly on the offside where the coil spring fractured in 2019, as a replacement spring fitted years ago should still be checked for signs of sagging, corrosion at the spring seats, or disturbed geometry, and the rear axle and beam bushes warrant a visual look for cracking. Inspect both rear tyres carefully for any exposed cord, cuts or bulges given the 2022 Dangerous failure, confirm the front brake discs are not lipped, scored or close to the minimum thickness by feeling the disc edge through the wheel, and check the underside and engine bay for any fresh oil residue that would suggest the 2022 advisory leak has progressed. Finally, request evidence that all items from every recorded advisory and failure have been properly rectified, and consider an independent pre-purchase inspection given the mix of structural, tyre and lighting issues that this particular car has demonstrated across its MOT history.