Renault Trafic Sl28 B-Ness MOT pass rate & common failures
The Renault Trafic Sl28 B-Ness appears in 11,740 MOT tests spanning model years 2018–2022, and 83.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 9.2% of the time, so this is 7.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.7%) and suspension (6.2%) 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 malfunction indicator lamp — brake pads alone was recorded 550 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.7% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 17.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Trafic Sl28 B-Ness model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,867 | 84.7% | 15.3% | Suspension |
| 2020 | 4,471 | 83.6% | 16.4% | Suspension |
| 2021 | 5,313 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 86 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 786 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.2% | 732 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.7% | 555 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.2% | 494 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 402 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 358 |
| 7 | Steering | 1.5% | 170 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 113 |
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 | 550 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 369 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 336 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 310 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 224 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 219 |
| 7 | Washers | 215 |
| 8 | Linkage ball joints | 208 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 19.0% | 2,228 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.6% | 2,065 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.2% | 1,199 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 823 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 758 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.2% | 611 |
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 | 1,736 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,799 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,328 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,256 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 431 | 22.0% |
| 150k+ | 189 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 432 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 1,963 | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 4,627 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 4,712 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a Renault Trafic Sl28 B-Ness
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 (4.7% 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 B-Ness?
83.4% of the 11,740 Renault Trafic Sl28 B-Ness MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 16.6% fail rate, across model years 2018–2022.
What does the Renault Trafic Sl28 B-Ness most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests, then suspension (6.2%).
How much does mileage affect Trafic Sl28 B-Ness MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.7% for 150k+, a 10.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,740 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.