1990 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 999 MOT tests, the 1990 Renault Trafic recorded a 65.3% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 29.2% of the time, so this is 5.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.4% of all tests — 6.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 189 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1990 Trafic fails 32.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 35.1% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 37.8% in 2021 to 34.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.4% | 234 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.2% | 172 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 150 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.6% | 126 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.7% | 87 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 72 |
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 | 189 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 139 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 97 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 77 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 77 |
| 6 | Wipers | 73 |
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 | 37.4% | 374 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.4% | 324 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 30.4% | 304 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.5% | 215 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 21.3% | 213 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 155 |
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 | 46 | 32.6% |
| 30-60k | 188 | 34.0% |
| 60-90k | 499 | 35.7% |
| 90-120k | 180 | 34.4% |
| 120-150k | 57 | 35.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 754 | 37.0% |
| Diesel | 245 | 27.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 254 | 37.8% |
| 2022 | 217 | 32.3% |
| 2023 | 218 | 36.2% |
| 2024 | 178 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 132 | 34.1% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Trafic
On a 1990 Trafic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.2% 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 (15.0% 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+.
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 1990 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
65.3% of the 999 1990 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.4% of tests, followed by brakes (17.2%).
Does the 1990 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.6% in the 0-30k band to 35.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 999 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.