Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Renault Clio?

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 2016 Renault Clio?

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 2016 Renault Clio?

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.

How many 2016 Renault Clio vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 Renault Clio reliable?

Based on MOT data from 22,642 vehicles, the 2016 Renault Clio 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.

What are common problems with the 2016 Renault Clio?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Renault Clio are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (43.5% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (42.9% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (35.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Renault Clio?

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 (2016)

22,642 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.7% first-time pass rate

2016 Renault Clio

CarHunch analysed 22,642 real MOT records for the 2016 Renault Clio. 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 Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Renault Clio sits just below the UK average with a 78.7% first-time MOT pass rate, and this is a genuine concern: 38.7% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, well above acceptable levels. Petrol versions fare slightly better at 79.5% passes compared to diesel at 77.2%, so fuel choice does matter for reliability here.

At a median mileage of 37,815 miles for an eight-year-old car, these Clios are running light, yet they still average 2.1 failures and 10.1 advisories per test—suggesting component wear is catching up faster than mileage alone would predict. Before buying, insist on a full service history and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension and brake components, which typically drive the failure counts on this model.

The 2016 Renault Clio has a decent first-time pass rate (78.7%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

78.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

38.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.1

Over 9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

38k

Middle half: 28k–49k

For context

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

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 10.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 22,642 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 22,642 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 43.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 31.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 15.8%

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 12.2%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 22,642 Renault Clio cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Renault Clio

Based on MOT data from 22,642 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.7% 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 (68%)	15,423	79.5%	2.01
Diesel (32%)	7,212	77.2%	2.27

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,127,460 Renault Clio vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 24.8%

279,273

Black 19.1%

215,121

Red 17%

191,565

Silver 16.4%

185,166

White 8.2%

92,735

Grey 7%

79,144

Green 5.2%

58,597

Yellow 1.1%

12,736

Beige 0.5%

5,266

Orange 0.5%

5,093

Gold 0.1%

1,649

Cream 0.1%

1,115

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Renault Clio vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

37,815

typical

28,093

low mileage

48,748

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Renault Clio vehicles fall between 28,093 and 48,748 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 28,093 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 28,093–48,748 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Renault Clios sit.

⚠ Over 65,809 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Renault Clio — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Renault Clios are still on the road.

Strong survival — 21,359 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.1

Avg failures per vehicle

10.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Renault Clio stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing