2006 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
30,914 MOT tests on the 2006 Renault Trafic are in this dataset, and 67.3% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (29.5% fail rate), the 2006 Trafic comes out 3.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.9%) and suspension (19.6%) 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 rbt (sp) — ball joint alone was recorded 3,841 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.3% versus 25.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.3% 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 | 20.9% | 6,477 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.6% | 6,060 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.0% | 5,242 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.3% | 2,861 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.5% | 2,641 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 1,760 |
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 | 3,841 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 2,854 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 2,620 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,578 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,278 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,882 |
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 | 40.3% | 12,454 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.9% | 10,795 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 26.4% | 8,160 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.1% | 7,745 |
| 5 | Other defects | 21.5% | 6,658 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 4,014 |
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 | 60 | 25.0% |
| 30-60k | 496 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,067 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,964 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 8,057 | 33.4% |
| 150k+ | 15,233 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,834 | 32.7% |
| Petrol | 80 | 31.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,745 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 7,113 | 32.7% |
| 2023 | 6,350 | 32.6% |
| 2024 | 5,277 | 32.5% |
| 2025 | 4,429 | 33.0% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Trafic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (19.6% 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.
- Brakes (17.0% 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.
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 2006 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
67.3% of the 30,914 2006 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.9% of tests, followed by suspension (19.6%).
Does the 2006 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,914 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.