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Renault Traffic Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Renault Traffic car check

Is the Renault Traffic reliable? We analysed 4,751 real MOT tests across 364 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 4,751 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
66.4%
Typical Mileage
100,854mi
Annual Mileage
5,694mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
43yrs

The Renault Traffic is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include track rod end ball joint has excessive play, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Renault Traffic.

Renault Traffic Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Renault Traffic. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Renault Traffic MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Renault Traffic to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

71%
2012
71.5%
2011
71%
2010
66.4%
2009
68.3%
2008
70.9%
2007
64.1%
2006
69.4%
2005
61.4%
2004
66.9%
2003
61.7%
2002
58.6%
2001
61.1%
2000
72.1%
1999
73%
1998
61.4%
1997
63.1%
1996
60.3%
1995
63%
1993
64.9%
1989

Renault Traffic Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Renault Traffic fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 170
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 147
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 129
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 107
position lamp(s) not working 102
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 97
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 96
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 87
Stop lamp not working 80
Registration plate lamp not working 80

Renault Traffic Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Renault Traffic owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,361 mi/yr
Typical
5,694 mi/yr
Average
7,903 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,667 mi/yr

Renault Traffic MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Renault Traffic year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 373 71.0% 76,944 113,093 154,686
2011 186 71.5% 61,495 100,368 138,969
2010 183 71.0% 54,382 75,592 121,879
2009 128 66.4% 65,056 100,304 138,040
2008 363 68.3% 64,231 100,100 142,454
2007 405 70.9% 53,476 94,441 132,988
2006 270 64.1% 48,222 79,342 125,282
2005 402 69.4% 70,964 103,152 141,304
2004 355 61.4% 69,178 107,204 137,864
2003 350 66.9% 72,593 105,485 145,251
2002 313 61.7% 97,534 135,601 170,536
2001 58 58.6% 165,723 220,285 223,339
2000 113 61.1% 86,669 107,417 120,217
1999 68 72.1% 84,232 96,056 114,839
1998 111 73.0% 26,908 51,155 100,614
1997 57 61.4% 84,585 90,755 113,957
1996 103 63.1% 48,152 60,437 106,756
1995 151 60.3% 49,238 93,207 130,923
1993 100 63.0% 68,608 101,999 133,459
1989 57 64.9% 69,772 75,410 89,777

How Long Does a Renault Traffic Last?

Based on 364 Renault Traffic vehicles on UK roads.

Average
16.2 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
43 years

Renault Traffic Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Renault Traffic MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
100,854 mi
75th Percentile
140,040 mi
95th Percentile
216,040 mi
Max Recorded
732,179 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Renault Traffic

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1998

73.0% MOT pass rate from 111 tests

Year to avoid
2001

58.6% MOT pass rate from 58 tests

The best year to buy a used Renault Traffic is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.0% across 111 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Renault Traffic Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Renault Traffic THIS CAR 66.4% 4,751 100,854 mi 43 yrs
Renault Clio 67.1% 14,729,048 62,807 mi 33 yrs
Renault Megane 67.3% 7,306,346 70,453 mi 30 yrs
Renault Laguna 64.6% 2,783,232 89,257 mi 32 yrs
Yamaha XQ125 74.2% 3,282 11,948 mi 25 yrs

Compared to the Renault Clio (67.1% pass rate) and the Renault Megane (67.3% pass rate), the Renault Traffic trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Renault Traffic?

The Renault Traffic has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.4% across 4,751 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Renault Traffic are track rod end ball joint has excessive play (170 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (147), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (129). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Renault Traffic owner drives around 5,694 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Renault Traffic models stay on UK roads for around 43 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Renault Traffic — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Renault Traffic reliable?
Based on 4,751 MOT tests, the Renault Traffic has a 66.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Renault Traffic?
The most common MOT failures are track rod end ball joint has excessive play, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Renault Traffic do per year?
The typical Renault Traffic does around 5,694 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Renault Traffic last?
Most Renault Traffic models stay on UK roads for around 43 years based on our analysis of 364 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Renault Traffic?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Renault Traffic?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Renault Traffic is 1998 with a 73.0% pass rate across 111 tests.