1995 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,187 MOT tests, the 1995 Renault Trafic recorded a 65.9% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 30.0% of the time, so this is 4.1pp 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 21.7% of tests against 15.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 169 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1995 Trafic fails 29.8% of the time in the 30-60k band and 30.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.2 points.
The diesel cars hold up better: 33.0% fail against 35.3% for petrol, a 2.3-point gap across 1,187 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.5% in 2021 to 33.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.7% | 258 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 185 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 177 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.4% | 147 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 111 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.7% | 91 |
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 | 169 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 168 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 124 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 122 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 108 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 102 |
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 | 32.2% | 382 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 354 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.1% | 346 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 29.0% | 344 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.2% | 228 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 212 |
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 | 205 | 29.8% |
| 60-90k | 535 | 34.0% |
| 90-120k | 318 | 38.0% |
| 120-150k | 71 | 33.8% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 30.9% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 615 | 33.0% |
| Petrol | 572 | 35.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 274 | 36.5% |
| 2022 | 268 | 35.1% |
| 2023 | 245 | 33.5% |
| 2024 | 205 | 31.2% |
| 2025 | 195 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Trafic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.6% 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 (14.9% 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 1995 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
65.9% of the 1,187 1995 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.7% of tests, followed by brakes (15.6%).
Does the 1995 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.8% in the 30-60k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,187 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.