2017 Renault Trafic 1.6L Diesel · HT17 HPJ

A pattern of suspension deterioration sits at the centre of this Trafic's MOT record and warrants close attention from any prospective buyer. Across the seven tests logged, the most recent pass on 29 May 2026 was achieved without any recorded defects, which is encouraging on the surface, yet the immediately preceding test on 22 May 2025 failed on a serious point: both rear coil springs were recorded as fractured or broken at the same visit. That test was then re-recorded as a pass the same day once the springs were replaced, but the failure itself points to a vehicle that, as recently as twelve months ago, was operating with compromised rear suspension. Combined with a 2024 failure on the offside front shock absorber for serious fluid leakage, and a 2022 advisory noting light oil misting on that same unit, the suspension system has been the consistent weak point. A further advisory recorded in 2025 for a nearside front anti-roll bar linkage damaged but not seriously weakened adds to this picture, as anti-roll bar components and coil springs are wear items that tend to deteriorate progressively once one part of the assembly starts to go. Mileage of 85,981 across nine years equates to roughly 9,550 miles per year, which sits comfortably within the expected range for a light commercial vehicle of this age. There are no extended gaps in testing history to suggest long periods off the road, and the annual mileage appears reasonably steady, indicating a working vehicle that has been in regular service rather than one that has stood idle or been used only occasionally. For a Trafic likely to have carried payload or towed during its working life, this kind of consistent utilisation is generally favourable from a corrosion and standing-start battery standpoint, but it does mean that consumable wear on suspension, braking and drivetrain components will be broadly proportional to the distance covered rather than artificially suppressed by low annual use. The recent pass with no advisories is the cleanest result in the file, suggesting that the suspension and anti-roll bar issues identified in 2024 and 2025 have been addressed at source. For a buyer evaluating this vehicle, the priority on any inspection should be the suspension and damping assemblies, given their recurring role in the record. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear axle over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, which would indicate either fresh coil spring failure or fatigued rubber mounting bushes. With a rear load aboard, the vehicle should sit level rather than sagging markedly on one side, and any harshness transmitted through the rear over minor undulations would suggest the replacement dampers are themselves degrading. At the front, pay attention to vague steering response or a clonking transmitted through the steering wheel over broken surfaces, which would be consistent with renewed wear in the anti-roll bar linkage ball joints or bushes, particularly on the nearside where the 2025 advisory was recorded. Brake condition should also be verified directly. A 2023 advisory flagged front brake pads as wearing thin, and at the current mileage those pads will have covered further distance and will almost certainly be due for replacement or, at minimum, a close inspection of pad material and disc surface condition. Feel for any judder through the steering wheel or brake pedal under firm application, which would indicate warped front discs, and check that the vehicle does not pull markedly to either side under braking. Inspect the nearside rear sill area noted in 2025 as slightly damaged, as sill corrosion can escalate on commercial vehicles that have carried wet or salty loads. Finally, check for any residual oil staining on the offside front shock absorber bodywork, as the 2022 misting advisory and 2024 fluid leak failure occurred in close succession, and a recurrence would suggest the replacement damper or its seal is already compromised.