2004 Renault Clio MOT pass rate: 56.5% (22,641 tests)
Is the 2004 Clio getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 55.5% -8.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 56.2% -7.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 58.4% -6.9 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2004 Clio
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12,131 | 32.1% |
| 2 | Suspension | 7,268 | 19.2% |
| 3 | Brakes | 4,540 | 12.0% |
| 4 | Steering | 3,045 | 8.1% |
| 5 | Visibility | 2,695 | 7.1% |
| 6 | Tyres | 2,444 | 6.5% |
All Clio years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5,864 | 60.7% | -5.8 pts | 77,163 |
| 2002 | 10,028 | 60.6% | -5.0 pts | 82,441 |
| 2003 | 15,162 | 57.5% | -7.5 pts | 83,436 |
| 2004 (this page) | 22,641 | 56.5% | -7.8 pts | 87,304 |
| 2005 | 27,540 | 55.9% | -8.5 pts | 87,445 |
| 2006 | 45,027 | 55.4% | -9.0 pts | 90,069 |
| 2007 | 59,345 | 55.3% | -9.8 pts | 89,922 |
| 2008 | 47,908 | 55.8% | -9.3 pts | 90,108 |
| 2009 | 49,545 | 56.2% | -10.2 pts | 84,991 |
| 2010 | 70,076 | 56.3% | -11.0 pts | 83,044 |
| 2011 | 52,146 | 55.5% | -13.7 pts | 77,816 |
| 2012 | 43,689 | 55.9% | -15.3 pts | 73,999 |
| 2013 | 59,921 | 60.8% | -12.5 pts | 73,994 |
| 2014 | 77,961 | 59.8% | -16.0 pts | 68,588 |
| 2015 | 72,021 | 62.9% | -15.8 pts | 60,832 |
| 2016 | 66,342 | 65.4% | -16.0 pts | 52,220 |
| 2017 | 57,261 | 72.2% | -11.9 pts | 45,226 |
| 2018 | 58,367 | 78.2% | -8.2 pts | 38,158 |
| 2019 | 44,618 | 81.1% | -7.3 pts | 32,362 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Renault Clio years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2004 Renault Clio reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 56.5% of their MOT tests (22,641 tests, 2023–2025), -7.8 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 87,304 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 Clio?
The median tested example shows 87,304 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.