Volkswagen Transporter: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Volkswagen Transporter fails its first MOT more often than the average UK vehicle, by 5.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 275,863 individual Volkswagen Transporter tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 70.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 29 in every 100 Volkswagen Transporters presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Volkswagen Transporter tested had covered 121,879 miles and was built around 2010.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Volkswagen Transporter sits 5.9 points below the national average, ranked 1,736 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. See how it stacks up against the Ford Fiesta.

Looking at a specific Volkswagen Transporter rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Volkswagen Transporters at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Transporter

1. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.3% of tests (2.42x the national rate for this defect)
2. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.9% of tests (2.12x the national rate for this defect)
3. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3% of tests (1.96x the national rate for this defect)
4. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.7% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this defect)
5. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.7% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this defect)
6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3.5% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 7.4% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect)
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.3% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)
9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 1.8% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect)
10. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 1.7% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this defect)

From 288,106 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Transporter tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.72% of these flagged Volkswagen Transporter defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Volkswagen Transporter

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Volkswagen Transporter before it actually fails on it.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 2.5% of tests (4.44x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2.8% of tests (2.27x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 11.8% of tests (1.91x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.8% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
5. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 8.6% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this advisory)
6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 6.8% of tests (1.45x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 18.9% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 23.5% of tests
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 12.7% of tests
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 10% of tests

From 288,106 DVSA-tracked Volkswagen Transporter tests, 2024.

Volkswagen Transporter pass rate by model year

From its 1990 to its 2020 model year, the Volkswagen Transporter's first-time pass rate has risen 18.3 points, from 67.7% to 86%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Volkswagen Transporter year:

• 1990 Volkswagen Transporter - 67.7% first-time pass, 1,136 tests
• 1991 Volkswagen Transporter - 68.2% first-time pass, 783 tests
• 1992 Volkswagen Transporter - 61.5% first-time pass, 1,041 tests
• 1993 Volkswagen Transporter - 62.6% first-time pass, 1,006 tests
• 1994 Volkswagen Transporter - 61.8% first-time pass, 1,761 tests
• 1995 Volkswagen Transporter - 59.9% first-time pass, 2,062 tests
• 1996 Volkswagen Transporter - 60.1% first-time pass, 2,499 tests
• 1997 Volkswagen Transporter - 60% first-time pass, 2,929 tests
• 1998 Volkswagen Transporter - 60.9% first-time pass, 3,754 tests
• 1999 Volkswagen Transporter - 61.8% first-time pass, 4,103 tests
• 2000 Volkswagen Transporter - 60% first-time pass, 4,621 tests
• 2001 Volkswagen Transporter - 60% first-time pass, 6,435 tests
• 2002 Volkswagen Transporter - 59.5% first-time pass, 6,321 tests
• 2003 Volkswagen Transporter - 59.7% first-time pass, 6,931 tests
• 2004 Volkswagen Transporter - 61.5% first-time pass, 9,101 tests
• 2005 Volkswagen Transporter - 61% first-time pass, 10,053 tests
• 2006 Volkswagen Transporter - 61.3% first-time pass, 11,465 tests
• 2007 Volkswagen Transporter - 64.4% first-time pass, 13,594 tests
• 2008 Volkswagen Transporter - 63.8% first-time pass, 12,943 tests
• 2009 Volkswagen Transporter - 66.7% first-time pass, 9,217 tests
• 2010 Volkswagen Transporter - 68.8% first-time pass, 11,101 tests
• 2011 Volkswagen Transporter - 71.6% first-time pass, 12,558 tests
• 2012 Volkswagen Transporter - 73.3% first-time pass, 12,911 tests
• 2013 Volkswagen Transporter - 76% first-time pass, 15,135 tests
• 2014 Volkswagen Transporter - 75% first-time pass, 16,751 tests
• 2015 Volkswagen Transporter - 76.9% first-time pass, 19,132 tests
• 2016 Volkswagen Transporter - 80% first-time pass, 21,301 tests
• 2017 Volkswagen Transporter - 81% first-time pass, 22,049 tests
• 2018 Volkswagen Transporter - 82.4% first-time pass, 22,271 tests
• 2019 Volkswagen Transporter - 85.1% first-time pass, 15,364 tests
• 2020 Volkswagen Transporter - 86% first-time pass, 771 tests

Volkswagen Transporter by fuel type

The Volkswagen Transporter's two most-tested fuel types split by 2.7 points: diesel passes first time 71.6% of the time (277,378 tests) against 68.9% for petrol (8,770 tests).

• Diesel Volkswagen Transporter - 71.6% first-time pass, 277,378 tests
• Petrol Volkswagen Transporter - 68.9% first-time pass, 8,770 tests

Other Volkswagen models

• Volkswagen Golf - 77.1%
• Volkswagen Polo - 71.4%
• Volkswagen Tiguan - 82.4%
• Volkswagen Passat - 74.7%
• Volkswagen Caddy - 73.5%
• Volkswagen Up - 84.4%
• Volkswagen Touran - 72.7%
• Volkswagen T-Roc - 92.3%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Smart (Mcc) Fortwo Coupe - 70.9%
• Jeep G-Cherokee Overland Crd A - 70.9%
• Chrysler 300 - 70.9%
• Skoda Roomster - 70.8%
• Mercedes-Benz Viano - 70.7%
• Mazda Rx-8 - 70.7%

If this van is a salvage or write-off

• Britain's most and least reliable vans: 2.2 million MOT tests analysed
• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate