Volkswagen Transporter Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Volkswagen Transporter passes its MOT first time on 67.2% of tests, 1.2 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (66.0%). That puts it ahead of 57% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2011 Transporter does best (beats 77% of cars) and the 2021 worst (beats 16%).

Of its engines, the 2.0 Diesel does best (beats 61%) and the 2.4 Diesel worst (beats 30%).

Better than average on tyres.

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Volkswagen TransporterTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 1%

Beats 1%

Beats 2%

Beats 2%

Beats 5%

Beats 14%

Beats 23%

Beats 24%

Beats 30%

Beats 24%

Beats 12%

Beats 12%

Beats 17%

Beats 23%

Beats 26%

Beats 30%

Beats 36%

Beats 43%

Beats 45%

Beats 51%

Beats 56%

Beats 57%

Beats 56%

Beats 59%

Beats 57%

Beats 60%

Beats 61%

Beats 62%

Beats 75%

Beats 77%

Beats 75%

Beats 76%

Beats 63%

Beats 57%

Beats 60%

Beats 43%

Beats 41%

Beats 35%

Beats 25%

Beats 16%

Beats 16%

Beats 32%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	2010–2023	1,338,452	75.9%	Beats 61%	B
1.9 Diesel	1992–2012	510,282	55.1%	Beats 51%	C
2.5 Diesel	1997–2012	429,556	57.2%	Beats 61%	B
2.4 Diesel	1991–2001	59,221	55.7%	Beats 30%	D
1.9 Petrol	1983–1991	25,765	59.3%	Beats 10%	E
2.0 Petrol	1982–2019	18,140	64.1%	Beats 16%	E
1.6 Diesel	1985–1990	10,526	59.9%	Beats 17%	E
2.1 Petrol	1989–1990	2,557	64.6%	Beats 38%	D
2.5 Petrol	1990–1990	1,264	64.7%	Beats 34%	D
1.7 Diesel	1989–1989	1,147	58.8%	Beats 14%	E

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Suspension: 12.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 11.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

13.8% vs 15.3%

Suspension

12.0% vs 11.8%

Brakes

9.0% vs 9.5%

Visibility

5.7% vs 5.7%

Tyres

5.5% vs 7.0%

Body & structure

5.2% vs 5.4%

Emissions & leaks

4.0% vs 4.4%

Steering

2.9% vs 2.9%

Seat belts & airbags

1.7% vs 1.8%

Wheels

0.3% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
Windscreen washers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Coil springs
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
Sidelights
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Volkswagen TransporterTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Headlight aim	3.9%	4.3%	0.9×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.3%	3.7%	0.9×
Windscreen washers	3.0%	2.7%	1.1×
Coil springs	2.8%	2.4%	1.2×
Sidelights	2.7%	3.9%	0.7×
Number plate lights	2.3%	2.0%	1.1×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	2.3%	1.9%	1.2×
Windscreen wipers	2.2%	2.5%	0.9×
Brake lights	2.1%	2.8%	0.8×
Tyre tread depth	2.0%	3.0%	0.7×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	43.5
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	39.4
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	29.8
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	28.8
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	27.6
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	22.9
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	21.7
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	20.8

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine84.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	7,085	84.5%	Beats 32%	D

2022 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine82.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	24,144	82.9%	Beats 16%	E

2021 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine81.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	54,480	81.6%	Beats 16%	E

2020 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine81.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	57,175	81.4%	Beats 25%	D

2019 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines80.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	92,157	80.7%	Beats 35%	D
2.0 Petrol	2,607	83.7%	Beats 41%	C

2018 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines79.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	117,896	79.5%	Beats 40%	C
2.0 Petrol	3,107	84.8%	Beats 61%	B

2017 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine78.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	137,975	78.3%	Beats 43%	C

2016 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine78.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	155,942	78.4%	Beats 60%	B

2015 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine75.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	158,502	75.9%	Beats 57%	C

2014 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine73.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	140,105	73.8%	Beats 63%	B

2013 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine73.3% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	126,634	73.3%	Beats 76%	B

2012 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines70.6% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	102,207	70.7%	Beats 75%	B
1.9 Diesel	5,475	68.8%	Beats 70%	B
2.5 Diesel	1,501	69.5%	Beats 73%	B

2011 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines68.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	93,728	68.8%	Beats 76%	B
1.9 Diesel	9,799	69.3%	Beats 79%	B
2.5 Diesel	2,366	68.0%	Beats 74%	B

2010 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines66.2% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	70,422	66.4%	Beats 76%	B
1.9 Diesel	18,661	65.0%	Beats 72%	B
2.5 Diesel	5,425	68.8%	Beats 80%	A

2009 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines60.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	51,401	59.0%	Beats 58%	C
2.5 Diesel	28,001	64.2%	Beats 71%	B

2008 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines58.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	67,372	57.1%	Beats 57%	C
2.5 Diesel	44,054	61.3%	Beats 68%	B

2007 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines57.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	66,068	55.9%	Beats 56%	C
2.5 Diesel	52,042	59.6%	Beats 65%	B

2006 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines55.4% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	56,304	53.7%	Beats 51%	C
2.5 Diesel	43,827	57.6%	Beats 63%	B

2005 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines55.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	51,390	53.5%	Beats 53%	C
2.5 Diesel	37,099	57.4%	Beats 64%	B

2004 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines53.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	51,132	52.0%	Beats 51%	C
2.5 Diesel	29,304	56.3%	Beats 63%	B

2003 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines54.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Diesel	53,990	54.3%	Beats 58%	C
1.9 Diesel	7,810	51.7%	Beats 51%	C

2002 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines54.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Diesel	51,804	54.1%	Beats 56%	C
1.9 Diesel	5,132	53.3%	Beats 53%	C

2001 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines53.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Diesel	30,196	52.6%	Beats 49%	C
1.9 Diesel	25,296	53.1%	Beats 51%	C
2.4 Diesel	1,650	64.3%	Beats 75%	B

2000 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines52.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Diesel	21,562	53.6%	Beats 49%	C
1.9 Diesel	18,435	50.8%	Beats 38%	D
2.4 Diesel	1,765	66.5%	Beats 81%	A

1999 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines53.4% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Diesel	17,367	53.8%	Beats 46%	C
1.9 Diesel	16,069	51.6%	Beats 37%	D
2.4 Diesel	2,207	63.5%	Beats 65%	B

1998 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines53.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	17,949	52.4%	Beats 35%	D
2.4 Diesel	7,753	54.1%	Beats 36%	D
2.5 Diesel	7,432	54.0%	Beats 40%	C

1997 Volkswagen Transporter4 engines53.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	14,648	50.8%	Beats 25%	D
2.4 Diesel	7,806	55.5%	Beats 34%	D
2.5 Diesel	3,586	56.2%	Beats 42%	C
2.0 Petrol	1,212	59.0%	Beats 34%	D

1996 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines53.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	11,214	51.2%	Beats 24%	D
2.4 Diesel	9,343	54.5%	Beats 30%	D
2.0 Petrol	1,524	57.4%	Beats 28%	D

1995 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines53.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	9,784	55.2%	Beats 26%	D
1.9 Diesel	7,070	50.2%	Beats 18%	E
2.0 Petrol	1,344	57.7%	Beats 23%	D

1994 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines53.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	8,720	55.6%	Beats 19%	E
1.9 Diesel	5,404	51.3%	Beats 16%	E
2.0 Petrol	1,566	52.9%	Beats 9%	E

1993 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines52.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	5,145	54.7%	Beats 16%	E
1.9 Diesel	2,257	49.5%	Beats 9%	E
2.0 Petrol	1,799	51.7%	Beats 6%	E

1992 Volkswagen Transporter3 engines53.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	3,833	54.3%	Beats 9%	E
2.4 Diesel	3,670	53.1%	Beats 13%	E
1.9 Diesel	1,396	53.2%	Beats 15%	E

1991 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines58.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.4 Diesel	1,378	53.2%	Beats 14%	E
1.9 Petrol	1,238	64.4%	Beats 42%	C

1990 Volkswagen Transporter4 engines62.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Petrol	3,333	61.5%	Beats 20%	D
1.6 Diesel	2,423	62.5%	Beats 35%	D
2.1 Petrol	1,266	65.7%	Beats 43%	C
2.5 Petrol	1,264	64.7%	Beats 34%	D

1989 Volkswagen Transporter4 engines61.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Petrol	4,021	60.8%	Beats 19%	E
1.6 Diesel	2,458	62.5%	Beats 34%	D
2.1 Petrol	1,291	63.6%	Beats 34%	D
1.7 Diesel	1,147	58.8%	Beats 14%	E

1988 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines61.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Petrol	3,251	60.6%	Beats 20%	D
1.6 Diesel	1,611	61.8%	Beats 27%	D

1987 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines58.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Petrol	2,945	59.0%	Beats 13%	E
1.6 Diesel	1,405	58.6%	Beats 15%	E

1986 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines58.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Petrol	3,978	59.9%	Beats 6%	E
1.6 Diesel	1,587	56.3%	Beats 4%	E

1985 Volkswagen Transporter2 engines55.2% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Petrol	2,852	56.5%	Beats 3%	E
1.6 Diesel	1,042	51.7%	Beats 1%	E

1984 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine56.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Petrol	2,682	56.3%	Beats 2%	E

1983 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine52.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Petrol	1,465	52.4%	Beats 1%	E

1982 Volkswagen Transporter1 engine53.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Petrol	1,148	53.3%	Beats 1%	E

FAQ

What is the Volkswagen Transporter MOT pass rate?

67.2% of MOT tests on the Volkswagen Transporter were passed first time, based on 2,396,910 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1982–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 66.0% of the time.

Is the Volkswagen Transporter reliable?

On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 57% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Volkswagen Transporter year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2011 Transporter does best for its age and mileage: it beats 77% of cars on UK roads. The 2021 does worst: it beats 16%.

Which Volkswagen Transporter engine is best?

Across all years, the 2.0 Diesel does best: it beats 61% of cars on UK roads. The 2.4 Diesel does worst: it beats 30%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen Transporter?

The most common failure items are headlight aim, tyre damage & cracking, windscreen washers.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Volkswagen Transporter reliability

Verdict

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ