2020 Renault Trafic Energy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 995 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Renault Trafic Energy, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 79.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.9% in the 150k+ group versus 12.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.7% | 67 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.8% | 58 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.0% | 50 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 38 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 32 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.2% | 32 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 42 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 35 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 26 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 24 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 23 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 19 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.4% | 173 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.3% | 162 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.6% | 95 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.1% | 81 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 57 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 47 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 214 | 12.6% |
| 30-60k | 313 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 235 | 23.0% |
| 90-120k | 143 | 23.8% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 46 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 41 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 286 | 18.5% |
| 2024 | 309 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 337 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Trafic Energy
Before buying a 2020 Renault Trafic Energy, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 6.7% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (6.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (5.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (5.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Renault Trafic Energys pass their MOT?
79.8% of the 995 2020 Renault Trafic Energy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Renault Trafic Energy?
Suspension, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by tyres (5.8%).
Does the 2020 Trafic Energy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.6% in the 0-30k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 995 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.