MOT performance

Volkswagen Transporter MOT pass rate and common failures

Across 662,911 MOT tests of the Volkswagen Transporter in 2023–2024, 68.1% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Volkswagen Transporters failed about as often as comparable cars. The most common failure item was “coil spring: fractured or broken”, on 3.02% of tests.

662,911 MOT tests on 349,271 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto

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At a glance

Volkswagen Transporter MOT results at a glance
Figure	Value	Basis
First-time pass rate	68.1%	±0.1 pts (95%), n = 662,911
Failures vs similar cars	0.99×	same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00
Tests with a dangerous defect	7.1%	n = 662,911
Average age at test	12 years	n = 662,911
Median mileage at test	100,007 miles	n = 662,911
Vehicles tested	349,271	2023–2024

Where Volkswagen Transporters fail

The share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Areas where the difference is large and clear link to their own page.

Volkswagen Transporter MOT failures by area
Area	Tests failed on it	vs similar cars
Lights, reflectors and electrical	12.6%	-9%
Suspension	11.7%	+4%
Brakes	8.7%	-7%
Tyres	5.5%	-16%
Driver's view of the road	5.4%	+1%
Body, chassis and structure	5.3%	-7%
Noise, emissions and leaks	3.9%	+11%
Steering	2.9%	-6%
Seat belts and airbags	1.7%	-5%
Registration plates and VIN	0.5%	Same
Road wheels	0.3%	-34%
Speedometer and driving controls	0.0%	+51%

Volkswagen Transporter MOT pass rate by fuel: diesel vs petrol

Raw pass rates partly reflect how old each fuel's cars are; the adjusted column compares each with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Fuels that differ materially from the model as a whole have their own page.

Volkswagen Transporter MOT results by fuel
Fuel	Tests	Average age	First-time pass	vs similar cars
Diesel	638,924	11.6 yrs	68.3%	-2%
Petrol	23,971	21.9 yrs	63.6%	+23%

Most common failure items

Most common Volkswagen Transporter MOT failure items
Item	Area	Share of tests
Coil spring: fractured or broken	Suspension	3.02%
Position lamp: not working	Lights, reflectors and electrical	2.30%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis and structure	2.23%
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	1.91%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively	Driver's view of the road	1.90%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid	Driver's view of the road	1.85%
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.73%
Stop lamp: not working	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.65%
Headlamp aim: too low	Lights, reflectors and electrical	1.60%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	1.55%

Most common advisories

Advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon; they don't fail the test.

Most common Volkswagen Transporter MOT advisories
Item	Area	Share of tests
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	13.69%
Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	Brakes	8.13%
Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine	Noise, emissions and leaks	7.15%
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded	Brakes	7.09%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	7.01%

Pass rate by age

Volkswagen Transporter MOT pass rate by age at test
Age at test (years)	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
3-4	73,146	82.4%	+4%
5-6	83,423	78.6%	+7%
7-8	79,990	75.3%	-4%
9-10	66,013	71.0%	-10%
11-12	54,484	68.1%	-15%
13-15	69,290	61.0%	-7%
16+	210,336	56.0%	+4%

Pass rate by registration year

Volkswagen Transporter MOT pass rate by registration year
Registered	Tests	First-time pass rate	Failures vs similar cars
2021	20,002	82.3%	1.08×
2020	31,150	83.0%	1.01×
2019	41,755	81.9%	1.05×
2018	43,177	79.8%	1.07×
2017	44,302	77.8%	1.05×
2016	43,451	76.6%	0.97×
2015	39,134	73.5%	0.97×
2014	34,522	71.3%	0.94×
2013	31,418	71.5%	0.84×
2012	27,627	69.4%	0.84×
2011	26,273	67.2%	0.84×
2010	23,525	64.5%	0.87×
2009	19,091	60.4%	0.94×
2008	26,650	57.6%	0.98×
2007	28,126	57.9%	0.96×
2006	24,126	55.6%	0.99×
2005	21,581	55.2%	0.99×
2004	19,431	55.2%	0.98×
2003	15,222	54.4%	1.01×
2002	14,337	55.0%	1.01×
2001	14,402	54.5%	1.04×
2000	10,597	54.5%	1.06×
1999	9,186	55.3%	1.08×
1998	8,536	54.8%	1.14×
1997	6,926	54.5%	1.18×
1996	5,743	54.9%	1.17×
1995	4,868	54.1%	1.19×
1994	4,126	55.4%	1.18×
1993	2,276	55.0%	1.22×
1992	2,315	54.9%	1.25×
1991	1,790	63.2%	1.03×
1990	2,469	63.7%	1.05×
1989	2,809	64.1%	1.04×
1988	2,560	64.8%	1.04×
1987	1,976	62.0%	1.15×
1986	2,256	61.9%	1.33×
1985	1,824	59.1%	1.45×
1984	1,538	60.0%	1.45×
1983	697	54.8%	1.60×

Years with fewer tests are shown for completeness; only years with enough tests have their own page.

Compared with similar models

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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.