2008 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Renault Trafic passed 68.7% of its 30,727 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 28.7% of the time, so this is 2.5pp 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 (19.1%) and suspension (17.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, ball joint and rbt (sp) — track rod end alone was recorded 2,943 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.8% versus 17.5%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.0% 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 | 19.1% | 5,853 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.5% | 5,392 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.4% | 5,053 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.0% | 2,763 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 2,153 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 1,592 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 2,943 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 2,824 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 2,465 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,407 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2,288 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1,743 |
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 | 42.0% | 12,919 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.6% | 9,104 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.0% | 7,074 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.7% | 6,366 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.3% | 5,017 |
| 6 | Visibility | 11.1% | 3,402 |
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 | 126 | 17.5% |
| 30-60k | 693 | 25.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,570 | 28.9% |
| 90-120k | 5,578 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 7,983 | 32.4% |
| 150k+ | 13,741 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 30,681 | 31.3% |
| Petrol | 46 | 32.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,269 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 6,813 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 6,251 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 5,598 | 32.6% |
| 2025 | 4,796 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Trafic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.5% 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 (16.4% 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 2008 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
68.7% of the 30,727 2008 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Renault Trafic?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by suspension (17.5%).
Does the 2008 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.5% in the 0-30k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,727 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.