2020 Renault Trafic Sl28 A — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Renault Trafic Sl28 A passed 88.6% of its 667 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.1%) and brakes (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 22 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.5% in the 0-30k band and 16.0% in the 90-120k band, a 9.5-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.1% in 2023 to 11.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.1% | 34 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.6% | 24 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.0% | 20 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 14 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.9% | 6 |
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 | 22 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 17 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 9 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 8 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 7 |
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 | 23.1% | 154 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.0% | 120 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.8% | 72 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.6% | 51 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.5% | 43 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 17 |
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 | 153 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 280 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 149 | 11.4% |
| 90-120k | 50 | 16.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 227 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 214 | 8.9% |
| 2025 | 221 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Trafic Sl28 A
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.1% 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.
- Brakes (3.6% 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.
- Tyres (3.0% 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.
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 Sl28 As pass their MOT?
88.6% of the 667 2020 Renault Trafic Sl28 A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Renault Trafic Sl28 A?
Suspension, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by brakes (3.6%).
Does the 2020 Trafic Sl28 A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 16.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 667 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.