Renault Trafic 2017: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2017 Renault Trafic include Track rod end (~9.5× peers) and Linkage ball joints (front) (~8.2× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (3,260 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 3,260 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Track rod end
This failure pattern appears about 9.5× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 318 failed first-attempt tests; 9.8% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 318 failures · ×9.5 vs similar cars · 9.8% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Linkage ball joints (front)
This failure pattern appears about 8.2× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 432 failed first-attempt tests; 13.3% of failed tests for this model year.
Front · 432 failures · ×8.2 vs similar cars · 13.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Ball joint (front)
This failure pattern appears about 8.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 125 failed first-attempt tests; 3.8% of failed tests for this model year.
Front · 125 failures · ×8.1 vs similar cars · 3.8% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Track rod end
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
|
Any | 318 | ×9.5 | 9.8% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Linkage ball joints (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
|
Front | 432 | ×8.2 | 13.3% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Ball joint
|
Front | 125 | ×8.1 | 3.8% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 4 |
Track rod end (front)
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
|
Front | 750 | ×7.2 | 23.0% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 5 |
Shock absorbers (front)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
|
Front | 353 | ×5.3 | 10.8% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 6 |
Coil spring (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Rear | 433 | ×2.9 | 13.3% | Possible elevated fault |
| 7 |
Malfunction indicator lamp
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Malfunction indicator lamp
|
Any | 400 | ×2.8 | 12.3% | Possible elevated fault |
| 8 |
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
|
Front | 300 | ×2.1 | 9.2% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Pins and bushes
|
Front | 21 | ×17.4 | 0.6% | Elevated vs peers |
| 2 |
Seat belts — Condition
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > Seat belts > Condition
|
Any | 28 | ×10.2 | 0.9% | Elevated vs peers |
| 3 |
Stop lamp (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Stop lamp
|
Rear | 52 | ×8.5 | 1.6% | Elevated vs peers |
| 4 |
Pedal
Brakes > Service brake pedal or hand lever > Pedal
|
Any | 74 | ×8.0 | 2.3% | Elevated vs peers |
| 5 |
Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
|
Front | 60 | ×7.4 | 1.8% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 6 |
Track rod end
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
|
Any | 57 | ×7.3 | 1.7% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 7 |
Stop lamp
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Stop lamp
|
Any | 81 | ×7.1 | 2.5% | Elevated vs peers |
| 8 |
Linkage ball joints (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
|
Front | 176 | ×5.9 | 5.4% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.