2017 Renault Trafic 1.6L Diesel · SA67 SWJ

A clear mechanical theme emerges from this Trafic's MOT history: a one-time failure in May 2025 linked to a fractured front coil spring and a split CV boot, but more importantly a persistent and accumulating pattern of advisories pointing to wear across the front suspension, steering, and brake discs. The most recent test on 11 May 2026 passed, yet carried forward several repeat concerns, notably pitted front inner brake discs on both sides, a rear coil spring showing corrosion, slight play in the offside front strut top mounting, play in the steering rack inner joint, and the recurring nearside front suspension arm ball joint wear that has now been flagged at multiple consecutive tests. Two clean passes in 2021 and a further clean pass in 2024 show the vehicle has been capable of returning tidy results, but the overall trend across the last three years is one of accumulating front-end wear rather than stable roadworthiness. Mileage stands at 98,228 over a nine-year registration period, equating to roughly 10,900 miles per year on average, which is a broadly typical accumulation rate for a working light commercial vehicle of this age. Testing intervals show a denser cluster of annual examinations between 2021 and 2024, followed by annual tests in 2025 and 2026, indicating the vehicle has remained in continuous use without extended periods off the road. There are no sudden unexplained mileage jumps between recorded tests, which suggests steady operational use rather than sporadic heavy work or long-term storage. That said, even an average annual mileage will, over nine years, place significant cumulative load on suspension bushes, coil springs, brake discs, and steering joints, all of which are showing their age in the recorded advisories. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension and steering assemblies warrant the closest physical attention. The nearside front suspension arm ball joint has been flagged for slight play at four separate tests across 2022, 2025, and 2025, and the offside front track rod end ball joint and steering rack inner joint have also shown play; on a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and feel for any vagueness, rattle, or self-centring delay through the steering wheel. The offside front strut top mounting with slight play noted in 2026 should prompt a check for excessive body roll through corners and any knocking from the top of the strut under brisk direction changes. Brake performance and chassis condition are the other priorities given the history. Front inner brake discs have been recorded as pitted or scored at the last three tests, and rear discs were similarly flagged in 2023, so on a test drive expect to feel for any vibration, judder, or pulsing through the brake pedal under firm application, together with any grinding or scraping sounds that would indicate the discs have now worn beyond their service limit. The fractured front coil spring recorded in 2025 and the corroded rear coil springs flagged in both 2025 and 2026 should prompt a visual inspection of all four springs for cracks, settlement, or uneven ride height, as corroded springs are prone to snapping under load. Finally, given the CV boot failure in 2025 and a deteriorated CV boot recorded as a minor in 2022, listen for any clicking or knocking from the front drivetrain on full-lock turns and check for fresh grease around the inner and outer CV joints, as a recurring split boot will ultimately lead to joint failure if left unaddressed.