2016 Renault Trafic 1.6L Diesel · FH16 DMY

A persistent pattern of steering and brake wear defines the recorded roadworthiness of this 2016 Renault Trafic, with the most recent test on 27 November 2025 resulting in a pass only after a failed attempt two days earlier. The 25 November 2025 test produced a Dangerous defect for rear brake pads measuring below 1.5 mm, a Major failure for excessive play in the offside front track rod end ball joint, another Major for an insecure nearside front track rod end dust cover, and a Major tyre cut on the offside front. The subsequent pass retained three advisories, including a slightly damaged offside rear tyre and a nearside rear service brake binding. Looking further back, the offside rear tyre cracking advisory has now appeared at three consecutive tests (2023, 2024 and 2025), and the same nearside front track rod end dust cover has been flagged at every test since December 2022, initially as a Major failure and subsequently as a Minor or Major depending on its deterioration. This is not a clean record; it is a vehicle with a documented, recurring cluster of advisories across braking, steering and tyres. With 99,158 miles recorded against roughly ten years of age, annual mileage works out at approximately 9,900 miles, which is broadly consistent with typical usage for a commercial van of this type. There are no unusual gaps in testing and no periods of dormancy that would warrant concerns about seized brakes, perished hoses or stale fluids from extended standing. The steady accumulation rate suggests the vehicle has remained in active service, which for a Trafic generally means consistent loading and the associated wear on suspension, brakes and drivetrain components. Mechanical expectations for a van at this mileage should therefore be set at the higher end of the spectrum rather than that of a lightly driven passenger car. For a prospective buyer, the priority on inspection should be the front steering and braking system. The track rod end on the offside front has now failed outright with excessive play, and the nearside front dust cover has been deteriorating for three years, so both joints and gaiters should be examined closely for any looseness, torn rubber or grease contamination. On the test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over uneven surfaces, feel for any wandering or pulling in the steering, and check for uneven tyre wear which would confirm misalignment or worn geometry. The rear brakes should also be inspected in person, as a service brake binding on the nearside rear was noted at the most recent test; a handbrake pull-up on a slight incline can reveal any dragging or uneven effort between sides. The tyre and underbody condition warrants direct physical inspection rather than reliance on the paperwork. The offside rear has carried a cracking or perishing advisory across the last three annual tests, which suggests the rubber compound is ageing and sidewalls should be checked for flex cracks under load. The offside rear back plate was flagged as rotten in 2024, and although corrosion on a back plate is rarely structural on this model, it is worth lifting any undertray or inspecting from below for the early stages of spread to the axle or brake pipe unions. Finally, given the Dangerous brake pad finding and the rear brake wear pattern noted since 2023, a measured thickness check of all four corners and a visual inspection of the rear calipers for sticking sliders would be a sensible precaution before committing to purchase.