1997 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Renault Trafic passed 66.0% of its 862 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.4 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.5% of tests against 15.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 130 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 45.2% versus 30.8%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.5% | 194 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.0% | 129 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 116 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.6% | 100 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 91 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.7% | 84 |
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 | 130 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 109 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 91 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 81 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 81 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 79 |
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 | 31.3% | 270 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.5% | 237 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.7% | 213 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.2% | 191 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.0% | 164 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.5% | 108 |
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 | 286 | 30.8% |
| 60-90k | 294 | 34.4% |
| 90-120k | 170 | 34.1% |
| 120-150k | 54 | 48.1% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 45.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 546 | 32.0% |
| Diesel | 308 | 37.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 212 | 33.5% |
| 2022 | 194 | 36.1% |
| 2023 | 171 | 34.5% |
| 2024 | 152 | 32.9% |
| 2025 | 133 | 32.3% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Trafic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 22.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (22.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.5% 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 1997 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
66.0% of the 862 1997 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.5% of tests, followed by brakes (15.0%).
Does the 1997 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.8% in the 30-60k band to 45.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 862 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.