Workhorse panel van, check injectors and turbo religiously
The Trafic is one of the UK's most popular medium panel vans, sharing its platform with the Vauxhall Vivaro and Nissan NV300/Primastar. It competes directly with the Ford Transit Custom and VW Transporter. The current generation (2014-present) received a major update in 2019 when the 1.6 dCi was replaced by 2.0 dCi engines, and a facelift in 2022. Used examples range from £8,000 for high-mileage 2014-2015 models to £25,000+ for low-mileage 2022+ facelifts. Annual maintenance costs typically run £800-£1,500 depending on usage.
We track 5 known issues across the Renault Trafic range, including 2 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Renault Trafic? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
T1000 (1980–2000) — Petrol options included the 1.6 Petrol, 1.7 Petrol, 2.0 Petrol, 2.2 Petrol, with 1.9 Diesel, 2.0 Diesel, 2.1 Diesel, 2.5 Diesel on the diesel side. Our database flags 4 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Structural corrosion around suspension mounting points (£800–£2,000 to address).
X70 (2001–2014) — Engine options included the 1.9 dCi, 2.0 dCi, 2.0 dCi, 2.0 dCi, 2.5 dCi, 2.5 dCi. Our database flags 4 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Structural corrosion around suspension mounting points (£800–£2,000 to address).
X82 (2014–2024) — Engine options included the 1.6 dCi, 1.9 dCi, 2.0 dCi, 2.0 dCi. Our database flags 3 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Steering ball joint wear and failure (£120–£280 to address).
The Trafic suffers from severe corrosion in load-bearing structural areas within 30cm of suspension mounting points, particularly around the rear leaf spring hangers and front subframe mounting areas. This is exacerbated by the vehicle's commercial use in harsh conditions including road salt exposure. MOT data shows this model fails structural integrity tests at 112.8 times the national fleet average, with failures appearing from 40,000 miles onwards. The problem affects multiple generations through to 2014.
Structural failure around suspension mounting points can cause complete loss of vehicle control, wheel detachment, or collapse of suspension components. The vehicle becomes unsafe to drive and repair costs typically exceed the vehicle's value due to the extent of welding required.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
The Trafic experiences premature wear of steering ball joints, particularly the track rod ends and steering tie rod ball joints. Commercial vehicle loading and frequent kerb contact accelerate wear patterns. MOT data shows failures at 44.8 times the national fleet average, with risk of complete detachment creating an immediate steering failure. The issue affects both second and third generation models with diesel engines being most commonly affected.
Complete ball joint failure can cause instant loss of steering control, wheel detachment, or inability to steer. The vehicle should not be driven if serious wear is suspected. Repair involves replacing affected joints and may require wheel alignment afterwards.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
Flexible brake hoses deteriorate internally and externally, becoming damaged, chafed, or excessively stretched. The commercial vehicle environment with frequent loading and harsh operating conditions accelerates hose degradation. MOT data shows failures at 89.6 times the national fleet average. Internal deterioration can cause brake fade while external damage risks sudden brake fluid loss and brake failure.
Complete hose failure results in immediate brake fluid loss and potential brake system failure. Internal deterioration causes progressive brake fade and reduced stopping ability. The vehicle should not be driven if hose damage is suspected.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
Common causes include catalytic converter degradation, lambda sensor failure, and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve problems. The aged engine management systems struggle to maintain emissions compliance, particularly on higher mileage examples.
Failed emissions testing prevents MOT pass and legal road use. Catalytic converter replacement costs £300-600, while multiple system faults can exceed £800. The vehicle cannot be legally driven without a valid MOT certificate.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
The steering rack protective gaiters (rubber boots) deteriorate and split, allowing dirt and moisture to contaminate the steering rack mechanism. MOT data shows failures at 224.1 times the national fleet average, making this the most statistically significant fault on the Trafic. While not immediately dangerous, damaged gaiters accelerate steering rack wear and can lead to expensive rack replacement if left unrepaired.
Damaged gaiters allow contamination of the steering rack, leading to accelerated wear and eventual rack failure. While the vehicle remains safe to drive initially, the steering rack may require replacement costing £400-800 if gaiters are not renewed promptly.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Renault Trafic common problems page.
Based on 638k real DVSA MOT tests, the Renault Trafic fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is speedometer not working at 1243x the fleet average, followed by headlight fault (552x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Renault Trafic MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 13k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt (£350–£550).
See the full Renault Trafic service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Renault Trafic has some well-documented weak points, including 2 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2019-2021 for post-engine-swap models with the 2.0 dCi (more power, better efficiency, improved refinement over the 1.6 dCi). 2022+ for the facelift with updated infotainment and safety kit. Avoid 2014-2016 1.6 dCi models with high mileage — injector and turbo failures become expensive. Always run a full engine diagnostic before purchase and inspect service history for regular oil and filter changes.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Renault Trafic, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Renault Trafic issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.