Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v reliable?

Based on MOT data from 566 vehicles, the 2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Renault Clio Expression 16v (2002)

566 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.7% first-time pass rate

2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v

CarHunch analysed 566 real MOT records for the 2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 2002 Clio Expression is well below the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 36.3% against the national 80% benchmark—a stark warning sign for a 22-year-old car. The fuel breakdown reveals a troubling split: petrol versions have a 0% pass rate across 305 vehicles tested, while the "Other" category (likely LPG conversions) achieves 78.6%, suggesting petrol examples are fundamentally unreliable at this age.

At an average mileage of 101,000 km, these cars have been well-used but not excessively so for their age; the real issue is that even moderately-driven examples are failing MOT consistently. With 0.35 failures per vehicle on average and no dangerous defects recorded, the failures tend to be fixable items rather than catastrophic safety issues—but the sheer frequency of them signals expensive maintenance ahead. If you're considering one, avoid petrol versions entirely and only look at LPG-converted examples with a full service history and pre-purchase inspection from a specialist.

The 2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (78.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

First-time pass

78.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.35

Over 1.9 tests on record

Low

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

These stats describe 566 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 566 Renault Clio Expression 16v cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v

Based on MOT data from 566 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (54%)	305	—	0
Other (46%)	261	78.7%	0.77

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,382 Renault Clio Expression 16v vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 30.1%

718

Silver 27.5%

656

Red 18.3%

435

Black 15.3%

364

Grey 3.1%

White 2.6%

Green 1.8%

Yellow 0.7%

Beige 0.5%

2002 Renault Clio Expression 16v — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 10% of 2002 Renault Clio Expression 16vs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 22 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (10% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

1.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.35

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Renault Clio Expression 16v: All Clio Expression 16v years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2003 2004 2005

Or browse all models: Renault →

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Average reliability — agree?