Model Reports 4 min read Updated 18 Oct 2026

Renault Clio 2003: reliability & common MOT faults

In 2025, 51 in every 100 first MOTs on a 2003 Renault Clio were passes. Most common reason for a fail: Drive shaft joints and boots (front).

Summary

The 2003 Renault Clio follows the pattern of the model years either side.

At a glance

How 3,712 first tests went in 2025.

Passed first time
51 in every 100
Did not pass first time
49 in every 1001,816 failed first-attempt tests
The typical car
22 yearsabout 82,652 miles
First tests counted
3,712

What failed most often

  1. Drive shaft joints and boots (front)11 in every 100 failed tests
  2. Airbag warning light10 in every 100 failed tests
  3. Number plate lights10 in every 100 failed tests

How we count this. Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Only Class 4 cars on their first MOT of the year are counted. A car that fails and is fixed at the test station still counts as a fail in the first-attempt rate. These are raw results, not adjusted for age, mileage, or peer mix. The MOT does not test engine or gearbox internals.

Note:

These are patterns across 2003 Renault Clio vehicles in 2025, not a prediction that any one car will have them. Faults are grouped by part of the car. A wear pattern follows age and use more than the way the car was built. They come from MOT defect codes, not manufacturer bulletins, recalls or a diagnosis of any one car.

Lamps and electrical

Two faults. The strongest is the hazard warning switch: 21 times as often as on similar cars.

Figures below are measured across the 1,805 of 1,816 failed first attempts (99.4%) that recorded an odometer reading in 2025. Mileage is needed to compare like with like.

We only list faults with at least 20 failures and a rate of about 2.0 times that of similar cars, which keeps one-off results out of the list.

Hazard warning switch

Failed on 90 first tests21 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

A hazard warning switch that is inoperative is Major, while one that is faulty or insecure is Minor. The lamps must work from one switch only, with the engine or ignition switch both on and off.

Number plate lights (rear)

Failed on 186 first tests3.4 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

Registration plate lamps must light up the rear registration plate and operate at the same time as the position lamps. A missing or inoperative lamp is Major when the plate has only one lamp or all its lamps are not working, and Minor when the plate has several lamps or light sources and not all have failed. A lamp throwing direct white light to the rear is also Minor.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

Steering

One fault: steering rack (front), 7.7 times as often as on similar cars.

Steering rack (front)

Failed on 105 first tests7.7 times as often as similar carsStrong evidence

What it means

Steering gear casing retaining devices dangerously loose, or visible relative movement to the chassis or bodywork, is graded Dangerous. A casing not properly attached, or fractured, is Major, but a fracture that affects the stability or attachment of the casing is Dangerous. A gaiter damaged but still keeping dirt out is Minor, and Major once missing or no longer doing so.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

Suspension

Six faults. The strongest is the macpherson strut pins and bushes (front): 7.5 times as often as on similar cars.

Macpherson strut pins and bushes (front)

Failed on 39 first tests7.5 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

A suspension pin or bush that is excessively worn is graded Major. One likely to become detached is graded Dangerous. DVSA uses its general suspension pin, bush or joint wording here, not anything specific to a strut.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 103 first tests, 5.8 times as often as on similar cars.

Macpherson strut (front)

Failed on 52 first tests6.7 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

Many MacPherson strut top bushes are designed to have significant lateral play when the suspension hangs free, so a top bush is rejected only when the play comes from wear or maladjustment. A top bush or bearing with excessive wear or free play is Major. Rubber or synthetic bushes are rejected only for serious deterioration of the bonding or flexible material.

Anti-roll bar linkage pins and bushes (front)

Failed on 85 first tests6.4 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

Excessive wear in an anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush is Major. If the pin or bush is likely to become detached, it is graded Dangerous. The wording is DVSA's general one for a suspension pin, bush or joint.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 180 first tests, 7.1 times as often as on similar cars.

Wheel bearings (rear)

Failed on 75 first tests2.7 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

Excessive play in a wheel bearing, or a bearing that is excessively rough, is Major. Play so excessive that the bearing is likely to break up or directional control is impaired is Dangerous, and so is a bearing so rough that it is likely to overheat or break up.

Also noted as an advisory

Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 52 first tests, 2.3 times as often as on similar cars.

Shock absorbers (front)

Failed on 74 first tests2.7 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

Slight seepage that leaves a film of fluid on a shock absorber does not fail it. Severe leakage, or damage so that it does not function, is Major. A shock absorber missing or likely to become detached is graded Dangerous, though a missing one is only rejected if shock absorbers were fitted as standard.

Coil spring (front)

Failed on 142 first tests2.6 times as often as similar carsPossible evidence

What it means

A missing bump stop rubber is not a reason to fail a coil spring. When the vehicle is jacked and lowered, a spring that does not correctly locate as the suspension returns to its normal running position is rejected as insecurely attached. A missing spring is Major, and graded Dangerous where directional control is affected.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.

Seat belts and restraints

One fault: airbag warning light, 3.8 times as often as on similar cars.

Airbag warning light

Failed on 188 first tests3.8 times as often as similar carsLikely evidence

What it means

The airbag warning lamp (SRS MIL in DVSA's wording) is failed only if it indicates a system malfunction, which is Major. A lamp lit to show the passenger airbag is disabled is not to be regarded as a defect. Dashboard messages are not a defect in their own right, though they can help the tester confirm a malfunction.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

Brakes

One wear pattern: brake discs (front), 2.1 times as often as on similar cars.

Brake discs (front)

Failed on 44 first tests2.1 times as often as similar carsWear pattern

What it means

A brake disc or drum must be significantly worn before it is rejected, and being worn below the manufacturer's recommended limits is not a reason in itself. Significantly and obviously worn is Major, as is contamination with oil or grease. A disc or drum that is fractured, insecure, seriously weakened or missing is graded Dangerous.

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

Advisories

Other things testers noted as worn or close to failing, more often than on similar cars.

An advisory is a note from the tester about something that has not failed yet. It is an early warning, not a fail. Advisories for the faults above are shown with those faults.

Individual sidelight or tail light (rear)

Noted on 56 first tests8.2 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Macpherson strut bracket and mounting (front)

Noted on 20 first tests6.3 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Brake light (rear)

Noted on 63 first tests3.9 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Exhaust system (rear)

Noted on 164 first tests3.3 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Wheel condition (rear)

Noted on 37 first tests3.1 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Anti-roll bar pins and bushes (front)

Noted on 46 first tests2.7 times as often as similar carsElevated evidence

Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Counts cover advisories recorded on failed first tests only, compared with cars of the same age and mileage.

MOT pass rates

How first tests ended, and how the pass rates are counted.

Passed first time
51in every 100
Passed on the first test.
Fixed at the station
8in every 100
Failed, then fixed at the test station the same day.
Failed
41in every 100
Did not pass, and were not fixed at the test station.

First-attempt pass 51.1% of 3,712 first tests (2025): only cars that passed first time count. Official-style pass 58.7%: cars fixed at the test station also count as a pass. The 8 fixed and the 41 not fixed make the 49 in every 100 that did not pass first time.

Same model, other years

Passed first time in every 100, all tested in 2025.

40608010020002003201020152020Older carsNewer cars
4060801002000200320102020Newer cars

Newer cars are younger, so look for a jump rather than the climb. A year earlier (2024), when these cars were a year younger, 48 in every 100 passed first time.

YearPassed first timeFirst tests
199953 in every 100352
200052 in every 100723
200154 in every 1001,453
200254 in every 1002,429
2003 This car51 in every 1003,712
200450 in every 1005,667
200550 in every 1006,971
200648 in every 10011,297
200746 in every 10015,443
200846 in every 10012,941
200946 in every 10014,127
201046 in every 10020,410
201145 in every 10015,582
201246 in every 10013,335
201353 in every 10018,839
201452 in every 10024,737
201555 in every 10022,966
201656 in every 10021,346
201763 in every 10018,461
201868 in every 10018,935
201973 in every 10016,484
202083 in every 10010,443
202185 in every 1008,884
202288 in every 1007,466

If you are buying one

What this year's MOT record means for the decision in front of you.

Mileage matters most on a 2003 Clio.

Of 2003 Clio vehicles with under 52,000 miles, 62 in every 100 passed their 2025 MOT first time. With 113,000 miles or more, 49 in every 100 did.

Under 52,000732 tests
62
52,000–73,000752 tests
49
73,000–92,000 Typical car729 tests
48
92,000–113,000735 tests
48
113,000 and over744 tests
49

What to check at your mileage

How often each fault turned up on a failed first test, by the car's mileage. Read it as: what is likely to need looking at on a car like the one in front of you.

Under 52,00073,000–92,000113,000 and over
Drive shaft joints and boots (front)4.06.64.3
Airbag warning light3.76.06.6
Number plate lights1.56.45.5
Individual sidelight or tail light (front)1.24.97.5
Suspension arm ball joint (front)3.34.86.2

Faults per 100 first tests, by the car's mileage at the test.

When a car fails

19in every 100

of failed cars had one item to fix.

60in every 100

of failed cars had three or more items to fix.

10in every 100

of all first tests had a defect the tester marked dangerous (unsafe to drive away).

Every figure here is a first-attempt MOT rate from DVSA open data for this model line, for cars of this model year tested in 2025. Each mileage band holds a fifth of the tests. MOTs do not test engine or gearbox internals, so this is a pre-purchase checklist, not a full reliability score.

FAQs

Short answers about how to read this model-year guide.

The 2003 Renault Clio follows the pattern of the model years either side. Its main cause of failure was Drive shaft joints and boots (front), about 11 in every 100 failed tests. In 2025, 51.1% of 3,712 first MOTs on the 2003 Renault Clio passed first time (PRS: items fixed at the station the same day, counted as a fail). The official-style rate including PRS is 58.7%. Among 1,816 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Steering rack (front) appears more often than on similar cars (5.8% of those tests; 105 observed failures; about 7.7× more often than similar cars). There is no single reliability score here; this is a pre-purchase checklist built from DVSA open data, not a guarantee for any individual car.
Ranked by how often they were actually recorded, the items that most often failed a 2003 Renault Clio at the first attempt were Drive shaft joints and boots (front) (10.5%), Airbag warning light (10.4%) and Number plate lights (10.3%), each as a share of the year's failed first attempts. That is what goes wrong most often on the car. The common faults table shows a different measure: faults that are unusual compared with similar cars.
Among failed first-attempt tests we highlight patterns that appear more often than on similar cars. Top example: Steering rack (front) (5.8% of those tests; 105 observed failures; about 7.7× more often than similar cars). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Steering rack (front) shows up more often than on similar cars (5.8% of those tests; 105 observed failures; about 7.7× more often than similar cars). That does not prove a design fault. Age, mileage, and how the car was used still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase checkpoint, not a manufacturer service bulletin.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2003 Renault Clio include Steering rack (front), Hazard warning switch, Macpherson strut pins and bushes (front). These are the faults that stand out compared with similar cars, not a complete list of what can go wrong on any individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that appear more often than on similar cars among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights MOT failure patterns for the 2003 Renault Clio (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are compared with cars of a similar age and mileage. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics, not a full service history or manufacturer service-bulletin list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.

About this data

How this page is built and what it can (and can't) say.

These figures come from UK MOT open data for this model year. We surface common failure patterns against similar cars, not a full reliability score, and not a pass/fail verdict on any individual vehicle.

2024 2025

What we include

UK Class 4 cars only. Normal MOT tests (not retests); first test per vehicle per calendar year; results pass, PRS, or fail.

Same-day repairs

PRS means the car failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

How we compare

We compare this model year with other Class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year. This model family is left out of the peer group so the car is not measured against itself.

What this does not cover

  • MOTs do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronics; this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults come from MOT defect stats, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Age and mileage matching reduces, but does not remove, differences in how cars were used and maintained.
  • If the data for a car is too thin to say anything useful, we say so rather than guess.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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