Renault Clio Common Faults & Problems (UK Buyer's Guide)
Mk4 & Mk5, 2012–2024 · Supermini
This is an independent guide to the Renault Clio, written for used car buyers rather than sellers. The faults below come from owner reports, UK garage patterns and MOT history for this generation — not manufacturer marketing, and we take no commission from any dealer. Use it to spot the expensive problems before you hand over money.
Great value and comfortable — as long as you avoid the EDC auto and check the electrics.
Common Faults
Each fault below is drawn from real owner reports and UK garage patterns for this generation — not generic used-car advice.
EDC dual-clutch gearbox faults
seriousThe 6-speed EDC suffers mechatronic and clutch wear, giving jerky low-speed shifts and a gearbox warning.
Check for: Crawl in traffic on the test drive. Any shunting or flare between gears is expensive.
Typical cost: £1,200–£2,200
Electrical gremlins (R-Link, sensors, stop-start)
moderateInfotainment freezes, phantom warning lights and stop-start failures are common and often trace back to a tired battery or earth point.
Check for: Switch everything on at once, including the reversing camera and climate control.
Typical cost: £150–£500 for diagnosis and repair
1.5 dCi injector and DPF problems
seriousThe 1.5 dCi is a good engine on motorways but clogs its DPF and wears injectors on short urban trips.
Check for: Ask about DPF regeneration warnings, check for a smoky start, and avoid low-mileage town-only diesels.
Typical cost: £400 per injector, £1,000+ for a DPF
What to Check Before Buying
Take this list to the viewing. Every point comes straight from the faults above.
- EDC dual-clutch gearbox faults: Crawl in traffic on the test drive. Any shunting or flare between gears is expensive.
- Electrical gremlins (R-Link, sensors, stop-start): Switch everything on at once, including the reversing camera and climate control.
- 1.5 dCi injector and DPF problems: Ask about DPF regeneration warnings, check for a smoky start, and avoid low-mileage town-only diesels.
MOT history red flags
If any of these appear on the last two MOTs, negotiate hard or walk away.
- Emissions failure on a dCi diesel
- Repeated advisories for suspension arm bushes
Sharp questions to ask the seller
- Manual or EDC?
- What kind of journeys has it mostly done?
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