Petrol Volkswagen Transporter: MOT pass rate

68.9% of petrol Volkswagen Transporters pass the MOT first time, measured across 8,770 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 98,390.

Petrol against the other Volkswagen Transporter versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Volkswagen Transporter specifically, diesel is the strongest at 71.6%, and this petrol version sits 2.6 points below the 71.5% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol Volkswagen Transporter fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol Volkswagen Transporter had covered 98,390 miles at test, against 125,438 for the diesel. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Volkswagen Transporter page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Volkswagen Transporter

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 5.4% of tests (15.37x the national rate for this defect)
2. Audible warning inoperative, 2.6% of tests (9.37x the national rate for this defect)
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.5% of tests (8.54x the national rate for this defect)
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, 6.3% of tests (6.64x the national rate for this defect)
5. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4% of tests (5.32x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 2.7% of tests (5.12x the national rate for this defect)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.8% of tests (2.73x the national rate for this defect)
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.7% of tests (2.58x the national rate for this defect)
9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.7% of tests (2.51x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 5.1% of tests (2.15x the national rate for this defect)

From 8,899 DVSA-tracked petrol Volkswagen Transporter tests, 2024, split out from the Volkswagen Transporter's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 2.63% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol Volkswagen Transporter

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 16.9% of tests (26.03x the national rate for this defect)
2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 10.6% of tests (8.49x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 4.1% of tests (7.36x the national rate for this defect)
4. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 5.4% of tests (4.25x the national rate for this defect)
5. 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, 5.6% of tests (3.66x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 17.9% of tests (2.89x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 6.8% of tests (2.39x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.5% of tests (2.26x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 12.2% of tests (2.2x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 13.6% of tests

From 8,899 DVSA-tracked petrol Volkswagen Transporter tests, 2024.

Other Volkswagen Transporter fuel types

• Diesel Volkswagen Transporter - 71.6%

All Volkswagen Transporter MOT data · Every model