2020 Renault Trafic Sl28 B-Ness — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Renault Trafic Sl28 B-Ness passed 83.6% of its 4,471 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 9.4% of the time, so this is 7.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.6%) and lighting & signalling (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, malfunction indicator lamp and shock absorbers — brake pads alone was recorded 184 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Trafic Sl28 B-Ness fails 11.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2023 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.6% | 296 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 277 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 188 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 172 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 165 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 151 |
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 | 184 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 136 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 119 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 110 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 109 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 101 |
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 | 18.3% | 819 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 757 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 436 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 279 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 236 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.7% | 209 |
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 | 606 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,722 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,331 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 552 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 186 | 18.3% |
| 150k+ | 74 | 12.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,459 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 1,517 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 1,466 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Trafic Sl28 B-Ness
On a 2020 Trafic Sl28 B-Ness, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (6.6% 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 (6.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.2% 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 Sl28 B-Nesss pass their MOT?
83.6% of the 4,471 2020 Renault Trafic Sl28 B-Ness MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Renault Trafic Sl28 B-Ness?
Suspension, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.2%).
Does the 2020 Trafic Sl28 B-Ness get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 12.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,471 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.