2021 Renault Trafic — MOT failures & pass rate
290 MOT tests on the 2021 Renault Trafic are in this dataset, and 81.7% of them passed. That is 5.7 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 12.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.2%) and lighting & signalling (7.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, track rod end and registration plate lamp(s) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.3% once past 90-120k — 6.6× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2023 to 19.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.2% | 21 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 21 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.1% | 12 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 8 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.8% | 8 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.4% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 8 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 7 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 7 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 6 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 6 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.6% | 54 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 49 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.8% | 40 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.0% | 26 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.2% | 18 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 18 |
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 | 45 | 4.4% |
| 30-60k | 88 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 84 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 41 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 41 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 110 | 17.3% |
| 2025 | 109 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Trafic
On a 2021 Trafic, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.2% 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 (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.1% 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 2021 Renault Trafics pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 290 2021 Renault Trafic MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Renault Trafic?
Suspension, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.2%).
Does the 2021 Trafic get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.4% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 290 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.