1988 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 695 MOT tests, the 1988 Renault Trafic recorded a 62.6% pass rate. That is 8.9 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 28.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 28.6% of tests against 16.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, position lamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 148 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 38.4% versus 42.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 39.3% in 2021 to 34.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 28.6% | 199 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 116 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.6% | 115 |
| 4 | Suspension | 16.1% | 112 |
| 5 | Visibility | 13.2% | 92 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.1% | 56 |
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 | 148 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 90 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 89 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 85 |
| 5 | Wipers | 73 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 70 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.8% | 256 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 36.7% | 255 |
| 3 | Brakes | 36.1% | 251 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.5% | 170 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 24.3% | 169 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 21.9% | 152 |
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 | 139 | 42.4% |
| 60-90k | 255 | 34.5% |
| 90-120k | 199 | 37.7% |
| 120-150k | 73 | 38.4% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 572 | 36.7% |
| Diesel | 123 | 40.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 186 | 39.3% |
| 2022 | 171 | 35.1% |
| 2023 | 132 | 39.4% |
| 2024 | 117 | 37.6% |
| 2025 | 89 | 34.8% |
What to check before buying a 1988 Trafic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 28.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (28.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (16.6% 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 1988 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
62.6% of the 695 1988 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 37.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1988 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 28.6% of tests, followed by brakes (16.7%).
Does the 1988 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 42.4% in the 30-60k band to 38.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 695 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.