2021 Renault Trafic Sl28 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,515 MOT tests, the 2021 Renault Trafic Sl28 recorded an 86.1% pass rate. That is 5.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.7%. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.7%) and tyres (4.4%) 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 171 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.4% in the 0-30k band and 25.5% in the 120-150k band, a 17.1-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.6% of tests failed in 2023 against 15.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.7% | 164 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.4% | 154 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 147 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.2% | 146 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 90 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 79 |
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 | 171 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 107 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 106 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 77 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 72 |
| 6 | Washers | 53 |
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 | 22.8% | 802 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.6% | 689 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.9% | 314 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.4% | 294 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.6% | 161 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 144 |
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 | 784 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,502 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 811 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 288 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 102 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 35 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 1,700 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 1,778 | 15.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Trafic Sl28
On a 2021 Trafic Sl28, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Tyres (4.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% 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
How many 2021 Renault Trafic Sl28s pass their MOT?
86.1% of the 3,515 2021 Renault Trafic Sl28 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Renault Trafic Sl28?
Brakes, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by tyres (4.4%).
Does the 2021 Trafic Sl28 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 25.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,515 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.