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Renault Trafic Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Renault Trafic car check

Is the Renault Trafic reliable? We analysed 2,295,828 real MOT tests across 175,187 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,295,828 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
68.2%
Typical Mileage
96,196mi
Annual Mileage
8,040mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
37yrs

The Renault Trafic is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include track rod end ball joint has excessive play, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Renault Trafic.

Renault Trafic Number Plates

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

Renault Trafic MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

86.5%
2021
82.6%
2020
78%
2019
77%
2018
76.3%
2017
75.4%
2016
73.7%
2015
71%
2014
69.6%
2013
68.2%
2012
66.6%
2011
66.9%
2010
67.1%
2009
67.2%
2008
66.1%
2007
65.2%
2006
65.3%
2005
64.7%
2004
64.7%
2003
64.6%
2002

Renault Trafic Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 87,451
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 47,215
position lamp(s) not working 43,068
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 42,772
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 33,030
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 32,478
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 31,630
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 31,611
Registration plate lamp not working 27,937

Renault Trafic Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,513 mi/yr
Typical
8,040 mi/yr
Average
9,884 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,896 mi/yr

Renault Trafic MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 89 86.5% 37,101 49,987 69,577
2020 728 82.6% 25,943 46,532 81,934
2019 48,531 78.0% 38,928 60,422 86,986
2018 61,705 77.0% 42,916 66,056 95,169
2017 105,351 76.3% 45,408 70,327 101,930
2016 138,902 75.4% 49,315 75,148 107,391
2015 134,996 73.7% 54,602 81,054 113,167
2014 110,070 71.0% 58,252 87,512 122,989
2013 81,922 69.6% 63,642 94,948 133,391
2012 101,486 68.2% 67,076 100,264 138,658
2011 138,238 66.6% 67,922 102,258 140,516
2010 128,312 66.9% 71,974 107,532 146,618
2009 87,196 67.1% 69,561 106,336 147,158
2008 142,084 67.2% 72,478 108,602 147,825
2007 174,430 66.1% 73,074 108,502 147,296
2006 178,477 65.2% 73,679 110,056 147,972
2005 158,888 65.3% 74,824 110,454 147,760
2004 146,691 64.7% 73,833 109,155 146,809
2003 118,885 64.7% 75,652 110,208 146,050
2002 72,051 64.6% 81,391 113,047 146,946

How Long Does a Renault Trafic Last?

Based on 175,187 Renault Trafic vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.8 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
37 years

Renault Trafic Mileage Distribution

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

Median
96,196 mi
75th Percentile
134,857 mi
95th Percentile
197,501 mi
Max Recorded
1,692,963 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Renault Trafic

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

Best year
2021

86.5% MOT pass rate from 89 tests

Year to avoid
1983

57.5% MOT pass rate from 770 tests

The best year to buy a used Renault Trafic is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.5% across 89 tests. The 1983 model year has the lowest pass rate at 57.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Renault Trafic Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Renault Trafic THIS CAR 68.2% 2,295,828 96,196 mi 37 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
BMW X3 81.7% 1,227,551 66,390 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Renault Clio (67.1% pass rate) and the Renault Megane (67.3% pass rate), the Renault Trafic outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Renault Trafic?

The Renault Trafic has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.2% across 2,295,828 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Renault Trafic are track rod end ball joint has excessive play (87,451 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (47,215), and position lamp(s) not working (43,068). 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 Trafic owner drives around 8,040 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 Trafic models stay on UK roads for around 37 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 Trafic — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Renault Trafic reliable?
Based on 2,295,828 MOT tests, the Renault Trafic has a 68.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Renault Trafic?
The most common MOT failures are track rod end ball joint has excessive play, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Renault Trafic do per year?
The typical Renault Trafic does around 8,040 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Renault Trafic last?
Most Renault Trafic models stay on UK roads for around 37 years based on our analysis of 175,187 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Renault Trafic?
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 Trafic?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Renault Trafic is 2021 with a 86.5% pass rate across 89 tests.