1987 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 400 MOT tests, the 1987 Renault Trafic recorded a 66.0% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 28.3% of the time, so this is 5.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 26.3% of all tests — 8.3 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, position lamp and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 67 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1987 Trafic fails 31.3% of the time in the 30-60k band and 31.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 26.3% | 105 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.0% | 72 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.0% | 60 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.8% | 51 |
| 5 | Visibility | 11.0% | 44 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 67 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 51 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 38 |
| 4 | Wipers | 36 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 33 |
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 | 42.0% | 168 |
| 2 | Suspension | 40.8% | 163 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.2% | 113 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.8% | 99 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 83 |
| 6 | Tyres | 17.8% | 71 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 48 | 31.3% |
| 60-90k | 228 | 36.4% |
| 90-120k | 90 | 31.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 351 | 33.3% |
| Diesel | 49 | 38.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 100 | 35.0% |
| 2022 | 100 | 38.0% |
| 2023 | 86 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 62 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 52 | 34.6% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Trafic
On a 1987 Trafic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 26.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (26.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (18.0% 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+.
- Brakes (15.0% 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 1987 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
66.0% of the 400 1987 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 26.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (18.0%).
Does the 1987 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.3% in the 30-60k band to 31.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 400 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.