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Volkswagen Transporter MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Volkswagen Transporter. Check any Transporter by registration number below.

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70.3%

Avg Pass Rate

-15.3%

vs Volkswagen Avg

53

Year Ranges

Average

Reliability

Volkswagen Transporter — MOT Reliability Overview

The Volkswagen Transporter has an average MOT pass rate of 70.3%, which is 15.3 percentage points below the Volkswagen brand average of 85.7%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your Transporter on the road.

The most common reasons a Volkswagen Transporter fails its MOT are 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. If you are preparing your Transporter for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Volkswagen Transporter, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Volkswagen Transporter performs at MOT across different model years.

2024

Based on 242 vehicles

98.3%Excellent
Volkswagen average: 85.7%

2023

Based on 334 vehicles

99.4%Excellent
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Mileage at 3yr

122k mi

2022

Based on 332 vehicles

98.8%Excellent
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Mileage at 3yr

124k mi

2021

Based on 117 vehicles

90.6%Excellent
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.9%

Retest Rate

11.2%

Mileage at 3yr

60k mi

2020

Based on 1,772 vehicles

88.0%Excellent
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.1%

Retest Rate

13.4%

Mileage at 3yr

52k mi

Mileage at 5yr

92k mi

2019

Based on 36,169 vehicles

87.0%Excellent
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.7%

Retest Rate

13.1%

Mileage at 3yr

50k mi

Mileage at 5yr

88k mi

2018

Based on 51,446 vehicles

84.7%Good
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.9%

Retest Rate

15.9%

Mileage at 5yr

92k mi

2017

Based on 52,114 vehicles

82.7%Good
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.0%

Retest Rate

17.6%

Mileage at 5yr

102k mi

2016

Based on 51,223 vehicles

81.6%Good
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.4%

Retest Rate

19.4%

2015

Based on 45,706 vehicles

78.8%Good
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.2%

Retest Rate

23.1%

Mileage at 10yr

167k mi

2014

Based on 40,196 vehicles

77.2%Good
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.2%

Retest Rate

24.7%

Mileage at 10yr

166k mi

2013

Based on 36,943 vehicles

77.5%Good
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

23.3%

Mileage at 10yr

174k mi

2012

Based on 31,968 vehicles

75.4%Good
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.6%

Retest Rate

26.0%

Mileage at 10yr

190k mi

2011

Based on 30,411 vehicles

73.1%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.7%

Retest Rate

28.5%

2010

Based on 27,268 vehicles

70.8%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.0%

Retest Rate

29.8%

2009

Based on 22,455 vehicles

68.8%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.6%

Retest Rate

30.4%

2008

Based on 32,044 vehicles

66.4%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.7%

Retest Rate

32.9%

2007

Based on 34,178 vehicles

66.4%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.7%

Retest Rate

32.3%

2006

Based on 28,761 vehicles

63.4%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.1%

Retest Rate

34.4%

2005

Based on 25,505 vehicles

63.0%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.3%

Retest Rate

35.1%

2004

Based on 23,621 vehicles

63.4%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.9%

Retest Rate

33.4%

2003

Based on 17,185 vehicles

60.8%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.1%

Retest Rate

35.5%

2002

Based on 15,574 vehicles

59.9%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.3%

Retest Rate

36.4%

2001

Based on 15,968 vehicles

60.4%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.6%

Retest Rate

32.0%

2000

Based on 11,747 vehicles

60.7%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.9%

Retest Rate

31.8%

1999

Based on 14,083 vehicles

61.6%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.3%

Retest Rate

29.7%

1998

Based on 13,625 vehicles

60.7%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.2%

Retest Rate

30.5%

1997

Based on 10,932 vehicles

60.6%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.0%

Retest Rate

28.9%

1996

Based on 9,098 vehicles

59.1%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.7%

Retest Rate

32.6%

1995

Based on 5,947 vehicles

60.0%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.7%

Retest Rate

32.8%

1994

Based on 4,666 vehicles

61.2%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.4%

Retest Rate

29.8%

1993

Based on 2,705 vehicles

60.7%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.3%

Retest Rate

28.2%

1992

Based on 2,870 vehicles

61.7%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.7%

Retest Rate

28.0%

1991

Based on 2,482 vehicles

68.3%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.8%

Retest Rate

23.5%

1990

Based on 3,887 vehicles

67.9%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.5%

Retest Rate

26.4%

1989

Based on 3,977 vehicles

67.0%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.5%

Retest Rate

25.0%

1988

Based on 2,959 vehicles

69.6%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.6%

Retest Rate

22.3%

1987

Based on 2,213 vehicles

64.1%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.1%

Retest Rate

26.2%

1986

Based on 2,638 vehicles

66.1%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.4%

Retest Rate

25.6%

1985

Based on 1,986 vehicles

64.1%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.3%

Retest Rate

24.5%

1984

Based on 1,711 vehicles

66.5%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.2%

Retest Rate

27.3%

1983

Based on 640 vehicles

58.3%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.3%

Retest Rate

33.5%

1982

Based on 313 vehicles

60.1%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.7%

Retest Rate

27.3%

1981

Based on 187 vehicles

63.1%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.2%

Retest Rate

32.3%

1980

Based on 88 vehicles

56.8%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.3%

Retest Rate

21.1%

1979

Based on 95 vehicles

71.6%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

1.8%

Retest Rate

24.6%

1978

Based on 49 vehicles

75.5%Good
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

28.6%

1977

Based on 33 vehicles

57.6%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Retest Rate

12.5%

1976

Based on 48 vehicles

58.3%Below Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

8.1%

Retest Rate

18.9%

1974

Based on 47 vehicles

78.7%Good
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

10.7%

Retest Rate

14.3%

1973

Based on 79 vehicles

86.1%Excellent
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

5.5%

1972

Based on 107 vehicles

68.2%Average
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

18.3%

0

Based on 366,115 vehicles

77.3%Good
Volkswagen average: 85.7%
Mileage at 5yr

120k mi

Top MOT Failures — Volkswagen Transporter

The most common reasons a Volkswagen Transporter fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

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

6.0%
2

Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced

3.3%
3

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

3.1%
4

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

3.1%
5

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

2.7%

Volkswagen Transporter — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Volkswagen Transporter MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Transporter?
The average MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Transporter is 70.3% compared to the Volkswagen average of 85.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Transporter?
The most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen Transporter are: 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 (6.0%), Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced (3.3%), Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen (3.1%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the Volkswagen Transporter reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 70.3%, the Volkswagen Transporter is rated as "Average" for reliability. This is around average — regular maintenance is recommended to avoid common failure points.
How do I check the MOT history of a Volkswagen Transporter?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Volkswagen Transporter?
Typical mileage for the Volkswagen Transporter: 121,759 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Transporter to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Volkswagen Transporter's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

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