2006 Renault Trafic 1.9L Diesel · CE06 PEO

The most recent DVSA examination on 10 April 2024 resulted in a pass, though accompanied by a cluster of advisories and a minor defect centred on the front anti-roll bar. These recorded items, including slight play in both offside and nearside front anti-roll bar ball joints and a severely deteriorated nearside front dust cover, suggest a recurring pattern of front suspension wear that has surfaced in one form or another across multiple tests. The oil leak advisory, also noted in 2022 and again in 2024, points to a persistent but non-critical seepage, typically from the engine or gearbox area on a high-mileage Renault Trafic of this era. Taken as a whole, the maintenance trend is broadly stable rather than deteriorating, but there is a clear theme of accumulating front-end wear that warrants close scrutiny. With recorded mileage of 230,830 miles spread across approximately twenty years, this Trafic averages around 11,542 miles annually, a figure broadly consistent with a working van of its age. The history shows annual test entries through the early 2020s with a gap into 2024, suggesting reasonably steady utilisation rather than long periods of standing. Sustained high mileage of this nature inevitably brings greater wear to suspension components, braking hardware, clutch and dual-mass flywheel (if applicable), drivetrain mountings, and engine ancillaries, so cumulative degradation should be assumed even where individual advisories appear minor. Turning to the recurring advisories, the front suspension components flagged repeatedly, including anti-roll bar ball joints, suspension arm ball joints, and their associated dust covers, are common wear items on the Trafic and tend to progress with use and age. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocking from the front end over speed humps, uneven road joins, or when turning at low speed, as these are classic indicators of worn anti-roll bar drop links and ball joints. Inspect the nearside steering rack gaiter noted as damaged in 2023, checking for splits that could allow moisture and dirt ingress into the rack, and monitor the oil leak by placing clean card beneath the engine overnight to determine its source and severity. Brake feel should be tested for shudder under firm pedal pressure, which would suggest warped front discs, a frequent issue on high-mileage commercial vehicles, and the tyres should be examined closely for uneven inner or outer shoulder wear consistent with the worn-on-edge advisory recorded in 2022 and 2023. Given the vehicle's age and accumulated mileage, a prospective buyer should also conduct thorough age-related checks beyond what MOT history alone reveals. Tyre sidewalls should be inspected for perishing and cracking, which can occur even on relatively unworn tyres due to calendar age, and the spare should be checked likewise. The 12V battery is likely original or near-original in age and should be load-tested, as a weak battery will cause starting issues and potential electronic faults. Brake calipers, particularly the rear units on a Trafic of this generation, are prone to seizing from corrosion if the vehicle has stood for extended periods, so each wheel should be rocked by hand to confirm free rotation without binding. Coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid should all be assumed overdue for replacement on age rather than mileage grounds, and the timing belt or chain service interval should be verified against the service book, as neglect of this on a 2.0 dCi or similar diesel would be catastrophic. Finally, a thorough underbody inspection for structural corrosion, particularly around suspension mounting points, sills, and the rear axle area, is strongly advised given the van's working-vehicle history and two decades of road exposure.