Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 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 2017 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 2017 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 2017 Renault Clio vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% 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 2017 Renault Clio reliable?

Based on MOT data from 19,741 vehicles, the 2017 Renault Clio has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2017 Renault Clio?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2017 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 2017 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 (2017)

19,741 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.5% first-time pass rate

2017 Renault Clio

CarHunch analysed 19,741 real MOT records for the 2017 Renault Clio. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 2017 Renault Clio is slightly more reliable than average, with an 82.4% first-time pass rate compared to the UK average of 80%, though a significant concern is that 30.8% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point. Petrol versions perform noticeably better than diesels, achieving an 83.1% pass rate versus 81.0%.

At a median mileage of 33,766 miles for a seven-year-old car, these Clios have been used moderately and haven't yet reached the mileage where major wear typically accelerates. The average car accumulates 1.5 failures and 7.9 advisories per test, suggesting routine maintenance issues rather than structural problems—so factor in consistent upkeep costs, but also check the full MOT history of any specific car you're considering to spot patterns in what's been failing.

The 2017 Renault Clio has a decent first-time pass rate (82.5%), 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

82.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.5

Over 7.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

34k

Middle half: 25k–44k

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 7.9 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 19,741 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 19,741 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 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 19,741 Renault Clio cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Renault Clio

Based on MOT data from 19,741 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.8% 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 (69%)	13,599	83.1%	1.45
Diesel (31%)	6,135	81.1%	1.6

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 2017 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.

33,766

typical

24,634

low mileage

43,994

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Renault Clio vehicles fall between 24,634 and 43,994 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 24,634 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.

✓ 24,634–43,994 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Renault Clios sit.

⚠ Over 59,391 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Renault Clio — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Renault Clios are still on the road.

Strong survival — 18,470 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 2020–2025.
* 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

7.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.5

Avg failures per vehicle

7.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 2017 Renault Clio stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing