1994 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
1,065 MOT tests on the 1994 Renault Trafic are in this dataset, and 66.8% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (30.1% fail rate), the 1994 Trafic comes out 3.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 22.2% of all tests — 7.5 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 headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 158 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 30.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 37.8% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.3% in 2021 to 28.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.2% | 236 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 156 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 155 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.4% | 143 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 85 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.0% | 74 |
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 | 158 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 115 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 89 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 81 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 71 |
| 6 | Wipers | 66 |
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 | 34.8% | 371 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.5% | 367 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.7% | 295 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.4% | 260 |
| 5 | Other defects | 21.7% | 231 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 172 |
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 | 213 | 30.0% |
| 60-90k | 507 | 33.3% |
| 90-120k | 231 | 35.1% |
| 120-150k | 65 | 38.5% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 37.8% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 635 | 33.9% |
| Diesel | 430 | 32.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 251 | 36.3% |
| 2022 | 232 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 215 | 34.0% |
| 2024 | 207 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 160 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Trafic
On a 1994 Trafic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (22.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.6% 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 (14.5% 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 1994 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
66.8% of the 1,065 1994 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.2% of tests, followed by brakes (14.6%).
Does the 1994 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.0% in the 30-60k band to 37.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,065 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.