Renault Clio Common Faults in the UK

Mk4 2012–2019, Mk5 2019+ — supermini hatchback. Updated 6 October 2026.

This guide covers the Mk4 2012–2019, Mk5 2019+ only. Older Clio generations have different engines and faults — for one of those, see how to check any car for known faults.

The Renault Clio is one of the UK's most popular superminis. The Mk4 (2012–2019) is reliable but has a known timing belt replacement requirement on 1.5 dCi diesel engines and documented EGR valve fouling. The Mk5 (2019+) with the 1.0 TCe turbopetrol and optional E-Tech full hybrid is significantly more modern and reliable overall. Key concerns: EDC dual-clutch gearbox reliability on Mk4, clutch wear on manual diesels, and infotainment updates needed on early Mk5. Best buy: 2021+ Mk5 1.0 TCe manual. Worst: Mk4 with high-mileage diesel and EDC auto.

Largest DVSA recall for the Clio: R/2016/192, 68,552 vehicles — Wipers may not perform as intended. See the 4 DVSA recalls listed for this model.

MOT pass rate — official DVSA data

67.4% of Renault Clios registered 2013–2022 pass the MOT on the day (cars fixed during the test included), 13.0 points below all cars registered in those years (80.4%). These are the cars this guide covers that were 3 to 12 years old when DVSA tested them in 2025, counted from 18,099 DVSA tests; a pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.

Counting every registration year DVSA holds for the Renault Clio (2002–2022), which includes generations this guide does not cover, 62.7% pass on the day (cars fixed during the test included), from 32,125 tests.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Compared against cars of the same registration years, because pass rates otherwise mostly measure how old a model's surviving fleet is.

See it by registration year and by mileage ↓

Asking prices — on Autoza

£3,995–£10,495, median £6,495

Cars advertised on 29 October 2026

Road Tax (UK) — VED, from the second year

£200/yr standard rate

£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).

Real-World Fuel Economy — owner-reported

46–54 mpg (1.0 TCe petrol, real-world UK); 51–63 mpg (1.5 dCi diesel)

Insurance

Group 8–15.

The asking-price figures above are the middle 80% and the median of what sellers were asking on Autoza on 29 October 2026 — not what buyers pay — for Renault Clio cars registered from 2012. They are worked out from the cars on sale when this page is generated, and none is shown when fewer than 10 cars qualify. The road tax line comes from GOV.UK's vehicle tax rate tables (2026/27 rates). The other quick-stats values are indicative editorial estimates aggregated from owner-forum sentiment, recall data and reliability surveys. We do not publish a UK price index, and no figure here should be quoted as one.

Best and worst years to buy

We name a year as a best or worst buy only where the DVSA MOT table further down does not rate it the other way.

Best Years

2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

2021+ Mk5 benefits from resolved early-build software issues, a more mature 1.0 TCe engine, and the optional E-Tech full hybrid.

2023 and 2024 cars are too new for the DVSA table below, so there is no MOT record behind them yet.

Worst Years

2013, 2014, 2015

Early Mk4 (2013–2015) UK examples suffer from EDC dual-clutch gearbox judder, EGR fouling on diesel, and 1.5 dCi timing belt neglect. These are the most problematic Clios to buy used.

Known faults — Renault Clio Mk4 2012–2019, Mk5 2019+

How to read this list. This model’s DVSA safety recalls are listed in their own section below, largest first, each with DVSA’s reference and vehicle count. Everything else in this list is owner-reported: patterns that come up repeatedly with workshops, owner forums and reliability surveys. Those are worth checking on a viewing, but we hold no count of how many cars have each one, other than any survey share a card itself quotes. Treat an owner-reported item as a question to ask, not a fault this car has.

Timing belt — 1.5 dCi diesel (Mk4)

Owner-reported · frequency unknownCritical — safety or catastrophic failure risk

Symptoms: No warning — belt fails without symptoms; catastrophic engine damage results
Years affected: Mk4 2012–2019 (1.5 dCi diesel) — Follow the service book; Dacia UK, whose Duster uses the same Renault 1.5 dCi family, says to change the belt if the car is more than 5 years old or has done over 70,000 miles
Indicative repair (UK): £400–£650 preventative kit; £2,000–£4,000 engine if belt snaps
What to check before buying: Verify belt change in service history. The Renault 1.5 dCi is an interference engine. No record means budget for immediate replacement before buying.

EDC dual-clutch gearbox judder (Mk4)

Owner-reported · frequency unknownMajor — significant repair cost

Symptoms: Shudder from standstill; hesitant 1st-to-2nd change; jerky slow-speed behaviour
Years affected: Mk4 2012–2019 (EDC automatic) — Often from 25,000 miles on; worsens with age
Indicative repair (UK): £300–£800 re-learn and fluid change; £1,500–£2,800 mechatronic or replacement
What to check before buying: Test at walking pace in traffic and from cold. The Mk4 EDC is the weakest part of the car. If buying automatic Mk4, only accept a price that reflects the gearbox risk. Mk4 manual is far more reliable.

EGR valve fouling (1.5 dCi diesel)

Owner-reported · frequency unknownModerate — service-level fix

Symptoms: Engine Management Light; rough idle; black smoke under acceleration; loss of power
Years affected: Mk4 2012–2019 (diesel) — Above 50,000 miles or heavy short-journey use
Indicative repair (UK): £350–£700 EGR clean or replacement
What to check before buying: Check EML during test drive. Diesels with service history showing mostly city driving are highest risk. An Italian tune (hard motorway run) before the test can mask symptoms temporarily.

Infotainment software (Mk5 early build)

Owner-reported · frequency unknownMinor — wear-and-tear

Symptoms: MediaNav or Easy Link screen freezes; CarPlay drops out; slow wake from standby
Years affected: 2019–2021 Mk5
Indicative repair (UK): £0 — dealer software update resolves most cases
What to check before buying: Test CarPlay and navigation responsiveness during test drive. Renault dealer OTA update is free. If freezing occurs, request update as a condition of sale.

Clutch wear (manual diesel Mk4)

Owner-reported · frequency unknownModerate — service-level fix

Symptoms: Clutch slip under load; high biting point; difficulty engaging reverse
Years affected: Mk4 2012–2019 (manual diesel, urban-use cars) — Above 50,000 miles in city-use cars
Indicative repair (UK): £600–£950 clutch kit replacement
What to check before buying: Test on a moderate hill start — clutch slip (engine revs but car moves slowly) indicates wear. Check the biting point height — high biting point means the clutch is near end of life.

Handbrake cable stretch (Mk4)

Owner-reported · frequency unknownMinor — wear-and-tear

Symptoms: Handbrake requires excessive pulls to hold on a slope; rear drums not holding on hills
Years affected: Mk4 2012–2019, especially drum-brake variants
Indicative repair (UK): £150–£280 cable and adjustment
What to check before buying: Test the handbrake on any slope. More than 8 clicks to hold firmly indicates cable stretch. Drum brakes on the rear are a common MOT failure point — inspect before buying.

DVSA safety recalls for the Renault Clio, largest first

These are the recalls DVSA lists for this model and its build years: every one of 10,000 or more vehicles, largest first, with DVSA’s own reference and figures. A recall covers only cars built in its dates and within its VIN range — check a particular car by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check. “Critical” here means DVSA’s own notice tells owners not to drive the car until it is fixed. It is never a size: “Large” means DVSA lists 10,000 or more vehicles in the recall.

Safety recall · R/2016/192Large recall — 68,552 vehicles
Wipers may not perform as intended
In sub-zero weather conditions the front windscreen blades arms may become frozen to the screen. In extreme circumstances when the wipers are activated the wiper arm linkage may weaken detach or bend.
68,552 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 1 November 2012 and 31 July 2015 · recall launched 7 March 2017
Safety recall · R/2015/136Large recall — 49,748 vehicles
Reduction in braking performance
It is possible that the front wheel liners have been incorrectly positioned giving potential for them to rub against the front brake hoses. This in turn could in rare circumstances cause increased brake pedal travel and affect the braking efficiency of the vehicle.
49,748 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 5 March 2013 and 2 April 2015 · recall launched 16 July 2015
Safety recall · R/2026/094Large recall — 22,972 vehicles
Injection Computer Software Update
For certain vehicles reprogramming of the injection computer is required. Without this software update it could lead to breakdown or the vehicle failing to start.
22,972 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 1 September 2022 and 11 July 2025 · recall launched 4 December 2025
Safety recall · R/2014/086Large recall — 20,545 vehicles
Braking efficiency may be reduced
The protectors for the front brake hoses may have been fitted incorrectly which could in the worst case scenario lead to a reduction in braking efficiency.
20,545 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 22 November 2012 and 24 July 2014 · recall launched 21 August 2014

Source: DVSA vehicle recalls file (every recall since 1992), published under the Open Government Licence. Where DVSA gives one figure for a recall that covers several models, it is shown as the whole recall’s total.

Renault Clio MOT results by year and mileage

Measured from DVSA’s own MOT test records for tests carried out in 2025, not from owner reports.

By registration year

Against all cars registered in the same year, the MOT pass rate for the Clio was lower in 8 and level in 2 of the 10 registration years from 2013 to 2022 with enough tests to measure. The widest gap below is 2016 registrations: 60.9% against 79.4% for all cars registered that year.

Pass rate here: passed on the day, cars fixed during the test included. Rows: every Renault Clio DVSA tested in 2025, by registration year (2013–2022), all engines and fuels together.

Renault Clio MOT pass rate (passed on the day, cars fixed during the test included) by registration year, against all cars registered the same year
Registered	Clio	All cars that year	Difference
2022679 tests	90.0%	91.2%	−1.2 level
2021849 tests	88.1%	90.1%	−2.0 level
20201,078 tests	86.2%	88.7%	−2.5 lower
20191,726 tests	76.8%	86.9%	−10.1 lower
20182,007 tests	72.3%	84.5%	−12.2 lower
20171,975 tests	66.7%	82.2%	−15.5 lower
20162,294 tests	60.9%	79.4%	−18.5 lower
20152,543 tests	60.7%	76.7%	−16.0 lower
20142,796 tests	56.4%	74.3%	−17.9 lower
20132,152 tests	60.0%	71.9%	−11.9 lower

By mileage at the test

Against cars of the same age on the same mileage, the pass rate for the Clio was lower in every one of the 5 mileage bands with enough tests. How other models compare at the same mileage.

Show the table by mileage (5 bands)

Renault Clio MOT pass rate by odometer reading at the test, against cars of the same age on the same mileage
Mileage	Clio	Same age and mileage	Difference
20k–40k4,353 tests	78.5%	87.4%	−8.9 lower
40k–60k6,699 tests	66.7%	80.1%	−13.4 lower
60k–80k7,656 tests	58.8%	73.7%	−14.9 lower
80k–100k5,926 tests	54.1%	68.6%	−14.5 lower
100k–120k3,313 tests	54.0%	65.7%	−11.7 lower

Only a major or dangerous defect fails an MOT. A minor defect is recorded on the certificate and the car still passes, and an advisory is not a failure at all.

We don’t give a recall count for the Renault Clio: whether a recall applies depends on the individual car. Check the one you are looking at by entering its registration on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall checker, and see how to check a car for known faults for the other free checks.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months) (3,459,000 tests). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Odometer readings below 100 or above 400,000 miles are discarded as misreadings, and cars under three years old are excluded because no MOT is yet due. Sampled from nine months of 2025 (January, February, April, May, July, August, September, October and November). Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Registration years shown are cars 3 to 12 years old when tested; the smallest rests on 679 tests. A gap is called level when it is under one percentage point or inside the 95% sampling margin for that number of tests. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Who this car suits — and who should look elsewhere

Recommended for

First-time buyers and young drivers seeking low running costs. City and suburban driving. Buyers who want proven reliability on a small budget. Mk5 E-Tech hybrid for fuel economy.

Not recommended for

Buyers who need an automatic gearbox and want reliability — avoid the Mk4 EDC. Rural drivers who need more ground clearance. High-mileage diesel buyers doing short journeys.

Alternatives to consider

If the Renault Clio doesn't suit, these comparable models are worth a look in the UK market:

Renault Clio: questions buyers ask

What are the most common faults on a used Renault Clio in the UK?

What is the best year to buy a used Renault Clio in the UK?

Best-buy years: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. 2021+ Mk5 benefits from resolved early-build software issues, a more mature 1.0 TCe engine, and the optional E-Tech full hybrid.

What years of Renault Clio should I avoid in the UK?

Worst years: 2013, 2014, 2015. Early Mk4 (2013–2015) UK examples suffer from EDC dual-clutch gearbox judder, EGR fouling on diesel, and 1.5 dCi timing belt neglect. These are the most problematic Clios to buy used.

How much does a used Renault Clio cost in the UK in 2026?

What sellers were asking on Autoza on 29 October 2026, for Renault Clio cars registered from 2012: £3,995–£10,495, median £6,495 — the range is the middle 80% of asking prices. Those are asking prices, not what buyers paid, and not a UK price index. Prices vary by mileage, region and trim, so compare several adverts of the same year and mileage band before negotiating.

What is the road tax (VED) on a Renault Clio in the UK?

Annual road tax (VED): £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).

What real-world fuel economy does a Renault Clio achieve on UK roads?

Typical real-world consumption: 46–54 mpg (1.0 TCe petrol, real-world UK); 51–63 mpg (1.5 dCi diesel).

How does a Renault Clio compare to its rivals?

Strong alternatives in the UK: Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai i20, SEAT Ibiza, Toyota Yaris. Choose based on dealer network in your area, parts availability, and your priorities (running cost vs. cabin quality vs. badge).

Who is the Renault Clio most suitable for?

First-time buyers and young drivers seeking low running costs. City and suburban driving. Buyers who want proven reliability on a small budget. Mk5 E-Tech hybrid for fuel economy.

Who should NOT buy a Renault Clio?

Buyers who need an automatic gearbox and want reliability — avoid the Mk4 EDC. Rural drivers who need more ground clearance. High-mileage diesel buyers doing short journeys.

Are there safety recalls on the Renault Clio?

DVSA lists 4 safety recalls for the Renault Clio that this guide shows or names, the largest first: R/2016/192 (68,552 vehicles, built between 1 November 2012 and 31 July 2015): Wipers may not perform as intended; R/2015/136 (49,748 vehicles, built between 5 March 2013 and 2 April 2015): Reduction in braking performance; R/2026/094 (22,972 vehicles, built between 1 September 2022 and 11 July 2025): Injection Computer Software Update. Whether a particular car is affected depends on its build date and VIN, so check its registration on GOV.UK (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy.

Is the Timing belt — 1.5 dCi diesel (Mk4) on the Renault Clio a serious problem?

Owner-reported, frequency unknown: Timing belt — 1.5 dCi diesel (Mk4) comes up in owner forums and workshop reports for the Renault Clio, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: No warning — belt fails without symptoms; catastrophic engine damage results. Years affected: Mk4 2012–2019 (1.5 dCi diesel). Follow the service book; Dacia UK, whose Duster uses the same Renault 1.5 dCi family, says to change the belt if the car is more than 5 years old or has done over 70,000 miles. Indicative repair cost in the UK: £400–£650 preventative kit; £2,000–£4,000 engine if belt snaps. What to check before buying: Verify belt change in service history. The Renault 1.5 dCi is an interference engine. No record means budget for immediate replacement before buying.

Is the EDC dual-clutch gearbox judder (Mk4) on the Renault Clio a serious problem?

Owner-reported, frequency unknown: EDC dual-clutch gearbox judder (Mk4) comes up in owner forums and workshop reports for the Renault Clio, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: Shudder from standstill; hesitant 1st-to-2nd change; jerky slow-speed behaviour. Years affected: Mk4 2012–2019 (EDC automatic). Often from 25,000 miles on; worsens with age. Indicative repair cost in the UK: £300–£800 re-learn and fluid change; £1,500–£2,800 mechatronic or replacement. What to check before buying: Test at walking pace in traffic and from cold. The Mk4 EDC is the weakest part of the car. If buying automatic Mk4, only accept a price that reflects the gearbox risk. Mk4 manual is far more reliable.

Check these next

The guide above is about the Renault Clio as a model. These are about the car in front of you.

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