Renault Trafic Sl28 A MOT pass rate & common failures
The Renault Trafic Sl28 A appears in 1,192 MOT tests spanning model years 2019–2021, and 88.9% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 9.3% of the time, so this is 1.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (4.8%) and lighting & signalling (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, shock absorbers and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 39 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.1% versus 5.3%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.3% of tests failed in 2022 against 12.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Trafic Sl28 A model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 192 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 667 | 88.6% | 11.4% | Suspension |
| 2021 | 333 | 90.4% | 9.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.8% | 57 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 43 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 40 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.7% | 32 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 20 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.8% | 10 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.4% | 5 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 39 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 31 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 15 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 13 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 12 |
| 7 | Track rod end | 12 |
| 8 | Coil spring | 10 |
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 | 20.5% | 245 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.2% | 193 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.9% | 118 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.0% | 71 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.4% | 64 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 33 |
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 | 284 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 476 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 264 | 12.5% |
| 90-120k | 103 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 41 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 46 | 4.3% |
| 2023 | 282 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 428 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 434 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a Renault Trafic Sl28 A
- Suspension (4.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.4% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Renault Trafic Sl28 A?
88.9% of the 1,192 Renault Trafic Sl28 A MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.1% fail rate, across model years 2019–2021.
What does the Renault Trafic Sl28 A most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 4.8% of tests, then lighting & signalling (3.6%).
How much does mileage affect Trafic Sl28 A MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 17.1% for 120-150k, a 11.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,192 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.