2017 Renault Trafic 1.6L Diesel · CE67 VCD

The defining mechanical concern in this Trafic's MOT record is a pattern of engine oil leaks progressing from a minor advisory to a major failure within a single year. The 2025 test produced an advisory for a non-excessive front oil leak, but the failure just twelve days earlier on 2025-07-03 cited the engine as leaking oil excessively, alongside a non-functional windscreen washer and insecure front fog lamps. An illuminated or malfunctioning MIL was also flagged as a major failure back in October 2021. Beyond the engine bay, the braking system has required recurring attention: rear brake pads wore down to the indicator wire in 2021, and pitted or scored brake discs have been noted on both the front (2022) and rear (2023) axles across consecutive tests. The intervening tests in 2020 and 2021 returned clean results with no advisories, so the braking deterioration is a relatively recent trend rather than a long-standing pattern, but it is a pattern nonetheless that warrants close inspection. With 93,787 miles accumulated over nine years, this Trafic is averaging roughly 10,400 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a working van of this age. The mileage progression between tests is steady rather than erratic, with no obvious extended gaps in MOT coverage or sudden jumps that would imply clocking or long periods off the road. There is a roughly eight-month gap between the 2023-10-27 test and the 2023-11-28 retest, and a notable two-year stretch with no recorded test between late 2023 and mid-2025, which could simply reflect a delay in presenting the vehicle for testing rather than any underlying usage issue. At this mileage, wear on consumables such as clutches, dual-mass flywheels, turbochargers, suspension bushes and anti-roll bar linkages is to be expected, particularly given that this is a commercial vehicle likely to have carried heavy or frequent loads. A prospective buyer should treat the engine oil leak as the primary inspection priority. On a cold start, listen for any top-end engine rattle that could indicate oil pressure starvation from a worn pump or diluted lubricant, and watch for fresh oil misting or weeping around the valve cover gasket, front crankshaft seal, and turbo oil feed and return lines, which are common leak points on the 2.0 dCi units fitted to this generation of Trafic. Blue smoke under load or on overrun would point toward worn turbo seals or piston ring blow-by. Check the underbonnet for fresh oil residue on the engine block and surrounding ancillaries, and inspect the ground beneath the vehicle after it has been moved for any fresh drips. The 2021 MIL fault should also be investigated by reading any stored diagnostic trouble codes, as an unresolved emissions or engine management issue can return even after the warning lamp has been cleared. The braking system warrants equal attention given the recurring disc and pad advisories. On a test drive, apply the brakes firmly from speed and feel for any vibration through the pedal, which would confirm the disc lipping or runout suggested by the pitted and scored advisories; listen for any grinding or metallic squeal indicating the pads are again approaching the wear indicator. With the wheel off, inspect the inner and outer disc surfaces for deep scoring, and check the caliper slide pins for binding, a common issue on vans that sit unused between jobs. The front suspension should also be exercised over uneven surfaces, listening for clonking from worn wishbone bushes or anti-roll bar drop links and feeling for any vagueness in the steering that could point to tired tie rod ends. Finally, verify that the front fog lamps are securely mounted, the registration plate lamps illuminate correctly, and the windscreen washer produces a strong jet, as these minor electrical items were all flagged within the past year.