2004 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Renault Trafic passed 66.9% of its 18,667 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 29.9% of the time, so this is 3.2pp 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 (22.2%) and suspension (20.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and headlamp aim — ball joint alone was recorded 2,084 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 37.9% in the 0-30k band and 33.9% in the 150k+ band, a 4.0-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.1% 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 | 22.2% | 4,148 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.0% | 3,731 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.3% | 3,037 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.7% | 1,805 |
| 5 | Steering | 9.3% | 1,734 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 1,403 |
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 | 2,084 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 1,726 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,642 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,606 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 1,419 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,327 |
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 | 39.1% | 7,307 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.4% | 6,984 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 26.2% | 4,889 |
| 4 | Tyres | 24.1% | 4,505 |
| 5 | Other defects | 21.4% | 3,991 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 2,895 |
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 | 58 | 37.9% |
| 30-60k | 304 | 26.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,158 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,909 | 32.4% |
| 120-150k | 4,721 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 9,428 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,609 | 33.1% |
| Petrol | 58 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,787 | 33.2% |
| 2022 | 4,294 | 33.0% |
| 2023 | 3,720 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 3,202 | 33.1% |
| 2025 | 2,664 | 33.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Trafic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 22.2% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Suspension (20.0% 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 (16.3% 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 2004 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
66.9% of the 18,667 2004 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.2% of tests, followed by suspension (20.0%).
Does the 2004 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 37.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,667 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.