2014 Renault Trafic 1.6L Diesel · HN64 UED

This Renault Trafic presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a notably clean bill of health. The most recent test on 22 April 2026 at 138,983 miles passed with zero defects recorded, a significant turnaround from the failures and advisories of previous years. This suggests the current or most recent keeper has addressed the vehicle's mechanical shortcomings comprehensively. The MOT record indicates a resolving trend, moving from a period of neglected wear items to a fully compliant state. The mileage accumulation of roughly 11,582 miles per year is typical for a working van of this age, implying consistent commercial or long-distance use rather than prolonged standing. The data reveals a notable gap between the March 2024 test at 122,089 miles and the April 2025 test at 125,007 miles, where only 2,918 miles were covered in over twelve months. This period of low utilisation may explain the sudden emergence of perishing tyre sidewalls flagged in 2025, as rubber deteriorates with age and ozone exposure, not just tread wear. The subsequent jump of nearly 14,000 miles to the April 2026 test suggests a return to heavier daily use. Despite the clean recent result, a buyer must physically inspect the front suspension and steering components. The February 2023 failure for excessive play in both nearside and offside track rod end ball joints points to a historical issue with steering vagueness and uneven tyre wear. Although rectified for the 2023 retest, these are high-wear items on a commercial vehicle, so checking for clunking over bumps or uneven inner tyre wear remains essential. The rear brake pads were flagged as wearing thin in April 2025, meaning the current discs and pads have covered nearly 14,000 miles since that advisory. A visual check for lipping on the disc edges and pad thickness is prudent. The recurring tyre defects across multiple tests, from low tread depth in 2023 to sidewall damage and wear in 2025, indicate that rubber has been a persistent weak point. While the April 2026 pass confirms all tyres are currently legal, the history suggests previous owners ran components to the limit. Inspect the sidewalls for perishing and the inner edges for scrubbing, which could hint at tracking issues stemming from that historic ball joint wear. Given the van's age and commercial nature, a thorough underbody inspection for corrosion, particularly around suspension mounting points and the rear chassis, is strongly advised to ensure structural integrity remains sound.