2018 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Renault Trafic passed 80.8% of its 44,656 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 16.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.7%) and lighting & signalling (7.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, malfunction indicator lamp and ball joint — track rod end alone was recorded 1,877 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.9% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 19.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.7% | 4,324 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 3,444 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 2,022 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 1,880 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.0% | 1,809 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.5% | 1,555 |
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 | 1,877 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,670 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 1,646 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 1,600 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,564 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 1,506 |
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 | 19.6% | 8,772 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.4% | 8,239 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.5% | 7,388 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.0% | 3,580 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 3,151 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.4% | 2,854 |
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 | 5,740 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 14,585 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 12,410 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 6,973 | 22.7% |
| 120-150k | 3,046 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,883 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,718 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 8,961 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 9,013 | 19.1% |
| 2024 | 8,992 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 8,972 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Trafic
On a 2018 Trafic, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.5% 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 2018 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 44,656 2018 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Renault Trafic?
Suspension, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.7%).
Does the 2018 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 44,656 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.