2002 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,204 MOT tests, the 2002 Renault Trafic recorded a 67.5% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 30.0% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (22.3%) and suspension (19.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, ball joint and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 516 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.7% in the 0-30k band and 33.1% in the 150k+ band, a 10.3-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 45.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.9% in 2021 to 31.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.3% | 1,159 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.4% | 1,008 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.1% | 892 |
| 4 | Visibility | 10.3% | 536 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 434 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.0% | 415 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 516 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 502 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 463 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 421 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 417 |
| 6 | Washers | 410 |
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 | 45.7% | 2,379 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.3% | 1,994 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 28.3% | 1,473 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.8% | 1,341 |
| 5 | Other defects | 24.1% | 1,256 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 980 |
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 | 44 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 270 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 699 | 31.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,380 | 32.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,757 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,478 | 33.9% |
| 2022 | 1,278 | 32.9% |
| 2023 | 990 | 31.1% |
| 2024 | 786 | 32.1% |
| 2025 | 672 | 31.3% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Trafic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 22.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (22.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (19.4% 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.
- Brakes (17.1% 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.
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 2002 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 5,204 2002 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.3% of tests, followed by suspension (19.4%).
Does the 2002 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.7% in the 0-30k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,204 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.