Renault Trafic Sl28 MOT pass rate & common failures
10,224 MOT tests on the Renault Trafic Sl28 (2019–2022) give it an 85.9% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 9.4% of the time, so this is 4.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.4%) and brakes (4.3%) 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 450 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.4% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.2% of tests failed in 2022 against 16.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Trafic Sl28 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2,860 | 85.6% | 14.4% | Suspension |
| 2020 | 3,828 | 85.8% | 14.2% | Suspension |
| 2021 | 3,515 | 86.1% | 13.9% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.4% | 548 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 443 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 419 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 399 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 263 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 262 |
| 7 | Steering | 1.2% | 121 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 49 |
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 | 450 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 285 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 276 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 251 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 191 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 159 |
| 7 | Washers | 146 |
| 8 | Track rod end | 130 |
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 | 22.3% | 2,280 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.3% | 1,977 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 988 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.2% | 739 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.1% | 524 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 451 |
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 | 2,091 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 4,267 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,418 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 982 | 18.9% |
| 120-150k | 328 | 20.4% |
| 150k+ | 138 | 17.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 614 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 2,022 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 3,740 | 13.3% |
| 2025 | 3,844 | 16.2% |
What to check before buying a Renault Trafic Sl28
- Suspension (5.4% 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 (4.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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?
85.9% of the 10,224 Renault Trafic Sl28 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 14.1% fail rate, across model years 2019–2022.
What does the Renault Trafic Sl28 most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 5.4% of tests, then brakes (4.3%).
How much does mileage affect Trafic Sl28 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 17.4% for 150k+, a 10.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,224 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.