2012 Renault Trafic 2.0L Diesel · RJ12 EWL

The 2012 Renault Trafic holds a current MOT valid from 26 August 2025 at 160,712 miles, meaning the certificate is now approaching ten months old with no subsequent test on record. The maintenance trend over the last three years is broadly improving. The March 2024 failure at 156,048 miles flagged multiple steering and braking defects, including excessive play in both track rod ends and inner rack joints, a missing rack gaiter, worn front brake discs, and a parking brake below efficiency requirements. The retest on 4 April 2024 at 156,054 miles passed, indicating those items were addressed, though advisories for worn and pitted front brake discs and play in the steering rack inner joints persisted. By the August 2025 test at 160,712 miles, the steering rack play had dropped off the report entirely, and only minor advisories remained: worn front brake pads, a damaged offside front tyre on its edge, and a windscreen stone chip in zone A. No new structural or safety-critical failures have appeared since the 2024 repair cycle. The mileage progression is consistent and unremarkable for a working van of this age. Between the February 2023 test at 147,990 miles and the March 2024 failure at 156,048 miles, the van covered roughly 8,058 miles in thirteen months. The jump from March 2024 to August 2025 is 4,664 miles over seventeen months, suggesting a slight reduction in use or a period of lighter duty. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden spikes in the odometer record, and the overall annualised average of around 11,500 miles sits squarely within the expected range for a commercial vehicle of this type and age. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front steering and braking components that have drawn repeated attention. The history of play in the steering rack inner joints and track rod ends, combined with a previously split rack gaiter, warrants a close check for uneven inner tyre wear, clacking over bumps, and any grease contamination around the rack boots. The front brake discs have been flagged as worn and pitted across multiple tests, so measure disc thickness and inspect for lipping or heat scoring, particularly if the van has been used for heavy urban stop-start work. The offside front tyre worn on its edge at the most recent test suggests possible tracking or suspension bush wear, so inspect the front lower arm bushes and anti-roll bar links for play. Finally, examine the offside rear brake disc, which was noted as significantly worn in the February 2023 failure, and check the parking brake linkage and cables for free movement, given the earlier efficiency failure.