2019 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 33,321 MOT tests, the 2019 Renault Trafic recorded an 82.1% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (15.2% fail rate), the 2019 Trafic comes out 2.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.6%) and lighting & signalling (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, shock absorbers and linkage ball joints — brake pads alone was recorded 1,224 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.4% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.6% | 2,550 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 2,445 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.6% | 1,547 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.0% | 1,350 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 1,151 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 1,077 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 1,224 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 1,073 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joints | 988 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 976 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 922 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 843 |
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 | 19.3% | 6,425 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.7% | 5,887 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.2% | 4,392 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 2,323 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 2,041 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.1% | 2,023 |
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 | 5,530 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 11,748 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 9,194 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,510 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,600 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 737 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 433 | 14.5% |
| 2022 | 8,212 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 8,367 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 8,190 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 8,119 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Trafic
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.6% 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 2019 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 33,321 2019 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Renault Trafic?
Suspension, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.3%).
Does the 2019 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,321 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.