Why does my Renault Clio keep failing its NCT?

I recently put a 1995 Renault Clio through an NCT test and it failed on the rear shock absorber, driver's side. Despite the car being 20 years old it only has 56k miles on the clock. In its very first test it had about 12,000 miles on the clock and it failed on the back shocks as well. In a subsequent test it also failed on rear shocks. The car is not being used for any heavy hauling and there is nothing unusual about its usage apart from it not being used very much that is!

This will be the third time the rear shocks require replacing. I am thinking that the problem is with the NCT test equipment and not the shock absorbers. What do you think?

C Clarken (Dunmanway)

Jan 2015 Filed under: NCT

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Expert answer

Hi there,

I'm afraid to say it's very, very unlikely to be anything wrong with the NCT's equipment - Renaults of that era were not, ahem, the most robustly built vehicles and suspension issues with them were more or less endemic. 

That said, if you've replaced the shocks already and the problem has reoccurred then there may be another issue. Perhaps the mounting points are at fault and are allowing too much energy up into the shock, causing it to wear prematurely? I think a thorough diagnostic visit to your nearest Renault dealer might be in order.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe