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1997 Renault Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles models manufactured in 1997, based on 52 real MOT test results.

40.4%
Pass Rate
59.6%
Fail Rate
52
Total Tests
110,928
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

This page shows all Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles cars tested in 1997. Want to see how cars built in 1997 hold up over time?

View 1997 Renault Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles vintage page → (40.4% current pass rate)

1997 Renault Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles MOT Analysis

The 1997 Renault Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles has an MOT pass rate of 40.4% based on 52 tests — significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 110,928 miles on the odometer. With a 59.6% failure rate, the 1997 Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1997 Renault Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles is Suspension, responsible for 86.5% of failures. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs range from £200–500. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment is the second most common issue at 55.8%. Brakes follows at 55.8%.

⚠ Based on limited data (52 tests)

Top failures specific to 1997 models only. The overall Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Suspension86.5%45
2Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment55.8%29
3Brakes55.8%29
4Driver's View Of The Road44.2%23
5Tyres26.9%14
6Steering23.1%12
7Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions21.2%11
8Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems5.8%3
9Items Not Tested3.8%2
10Body, Structure And General Items3.8%2

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 110,928 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Suspension7.80% per 10K miLamps & Electrical5.03% per 10K miBrakes5.03% per 10K miVisibility3.99% per 10K miTyres2.43% per 10K miSteering2.08% per 10K miEmissions & Exhaust1.91% per 10K miSeat Belts0.52% per 10K miItems Not Tested0.35% per 10K miBody & Structure0.35% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Suspension7.8086.5%45
Lamps & Electrical5.0355.8%29
Brakes5.0355.8%29
Visibility3.9944.2%23
Tyres2.4326.9%14
Steering2.0823.1%12
Emissions & Exhaust1.9121.2%11
Seat Belts0.525.8%3
Items Not Tested0.353.8%2
Body & Structure0.353.8%2

Mileage Statistics

110,928
Mean
108,782
Median
95,828
25th Percentile
146,317
75th Percentile
5.37% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 1997 Renault Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles has an MOT pass rate of 40.4% based on 52 tests — significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 110,928 miles on the odometer. With a 59.6% failure rate, the 1997 Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1997 Renault Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles, be prepared for above-average maintenance costs. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to suspension: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks. With an average mileage of 110,928 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.

Suspension — 86.5% of failures

Suspension issues account for 86.5% of MOT failures on 1997 Renault Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.8% of failures

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 55.8% of MOT failures on 1997 Renault Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.

Brakes — 55.8% of failures

Brakes issues account for 55.8% of MOT failures on 1997 Renault Clio Rl 1.9d Versailles models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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