Renault Clio (2001)
2001 Renault Clio
CarHunch analysed 77,474 real MOT records for the 2001 Renault Clio. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2001 Renault Clio has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.5%, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly a third of these cars (31.6%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a significant concern for safety-conscious buyers. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly, with pass rates of 66.6% and 64.9% respectively, suggesting the problem is structural to the model rather than fuel type.
At 66,000 miles median mileage for a 23-year-old car, these Clios are running at typical wear levels, yet they're still accumulating an average of 5 failures and nearly 16 advisories per test. If you're considering one, budget for regular repair costs and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, braking, and emissions systems—the usual culprits when pass rates drop this far below average.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 1.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2001 Renault Clio
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 31.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Renault Clio
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (93%) | 71,895 | 66.6% | 5 |
| Diesel (7%) | 5,535 | 64.9% | 5.09 |
| Other (0%) | 36 | 87.1% | 0.56 |
| LPG (0%) | 6 | 59.9% | 6 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 68.2% | 7 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 50% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2001 Renault Clio vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2001 Renault Clio vehicles fall between 52,681 and 81,015 miles.
2001 Renault Clio — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 2,407 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2001 Renault Clio
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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83%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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78.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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70.2%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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62.9%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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49.5%
Oil leak
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41.6%
Registration plate lamp not working
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40.3%
Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
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40%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Renault Clio?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.