2001 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 479 MOT tests, the 2001 Renault Trafic recorded a 67.0% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (29.8% fail rate), the 2001 Trafic comes out 3.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.6% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, service brake performance and washers — ball joint alone was recorded 54 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2001 Trafic fails 32.3% of the time in the 60-90k band and 33.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 49.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.3% in 2021 to 31.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.6% | 113 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.8% | 95 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.6% | 89 |
| 4 | Visibility | 12.1% | 58 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.9% | 38 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 54 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 48 |
| 3 | Washers | 47 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 43 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 43 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 37 |
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 | 49.3% | 236 |
| 2 | Suspension | 40.5% | 194 |
| 3 | Other defects | 26.9% | 129 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.6% | 118 |
| 5 | Tyres | 23.6% | 113 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 20.7% | 99 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 31 | 32.3% |
| 90-120k | 81 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 113 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 237 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 136 | 35.3% |
| 2022 | 121 | 31.4% |
| 2023 | 96 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 66 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 60 | 31.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Trafic
On a 2001 Trafic, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (19.8% 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.
- Suspension (18.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2001 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
67.0% of the 479 2001 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.6% of tests, followed by brakes (19.8%).
Does the 2001 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 32.3% in the 60-90k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 479 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.