1986 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
252 MOT tests on the 1986 Renault Trafic are in this dataset, and 67.5% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 28.3% of the time, so this is 4.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.0% of tests against 17.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are integral vehicle structure condition, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — integral vehicle structure condition alone was recorded 52 times.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 39.8% in 2021 to 26.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 25.0% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.5% | 44 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 40 |
| 4 | Visibility | 15.5% | 39 |
| 5 | Suspension | 12.7% | 32 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 52 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 49 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 27 |
| 5 | Washers | 23 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 22 |
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 | 38.9% | 98 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 32.9% | 83 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.4% | 69 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.6% | 57 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 40 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.5% | 39 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 99 | 34.3% |
| 90-120k | 102 | 33.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 83 | 39.8% |
| 2022 | 55 | 30.9% |
| 2023 | 46 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 38 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 30 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Trafic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 25.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (25.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1986 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 252 1986 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.0% of tests, followed by brakes (17.5%).
Does the 1986 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.3% in the 60-90k band to 33.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 252 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.