Volkswagen Crafter Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volkswagen Crafter car check
Is the Volkswagen Crafter reliable? We analysed 720,441 real MOT tests across 75,804 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volkswagen Crafter? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volkswagen Crafter is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, track rod end ball joint has excessive play and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Crafter.
Volkswagen Crafter Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Crafter. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volkswagen Crafter MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volkswagen Crafter to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volkswagen Crafter Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Volkswagen Crafter fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Volkswagen Crafter Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Volkswagen Crafter models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Volkswagen Crafter Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Crafter owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volkswagen Crafter MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Crafter year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 335 | 83.6% | 24,248 | 41,123 | 67,204 |
| 2022 | 2,045 | 82.1% | 30,046 | 55,838 | 89,896 |
| 2021 | 8,628 | 80.7% | 40,756 | 64,864 | 95,131 |
| 2020 | 12,712 | 78.9% | 46,970 | 74,115 | 108,291 |
| 2019 | 38,549 | 79.9% | 53,227 | 82,031 | 117,106 |
| 2018 | 36,946 | 78.4% | 57,640 | 87,139 | 122,758 |
| 2017 | 36,072 | 77.5% | 58,812 | 90,464 | 129,695 |
| 2016 | 55,037 | 75.3% | 62,976 | 96,765 | 139,646 |
| 2015 | 70,335 | 74.2% | 69,844 | 104,652 | 150,057 |
| 2014 | 69,749 | 73.6% | 70,690 | 107,711 | 152,036 |
| 2013 | 57,370 | 72.2% | 72,731 | 109,046 | 150,947 |
| 2012 | 55,343 | 70.9% | 76,606 | 114,091 | 158,799 |
| 2011 | 47,662 | 71.4% | 81,151 | 120,646 | 165,548 |
| 2010 | 45,792 | 71.0% | 84,055 | 126,034 | 173,661 |
| 2009 | 38,250 | 70.2% | 80,727 | 121,474 | 167,726 |
| 2008 | 60,517 | 69.9% | 81,173 | 121,656 | 164,108 |
| 2007 | 65,128 | 69.8% | 83,036 | 122,281 | 162,811 |
| 2006 | 15,556 | 69.6% | 80,011 | 118,280 | 158,096 |
How Long Does a Volkswagen Crafter Last?
Based on 75,804 Volkswagen Crafter vehicles on UK roads.
Volkswagen Crafter Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Crafter MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Crafter
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
83.6% MOT pass rate from 335 tests
69.6% MOT pass rate from 15,556 tests
The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Crafter is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.6% across 335 tests. The 2006 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volkswagen Crafter Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Crafter THIS CAR | 73.2% | 720,441 | 107,452 mi | 20 yrs |
| Volkswagen Golf | 74.9% | 22,270,993 | 83,305 mi | 37 yrs |
| Volkswagen Polo | 72.9% | 14,598,296 | 60,351 mi | 35 yrs |
| Volkswagen Passat | 73.5% | 6,960,690 | 105,632 mi | 32 yrs |
| Chevrolet Matiz | 70.8% | 487,981 | 39,253 mi | 21 yrs |
Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Crafter sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Volkswagen Crafter you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Volkswagen CrafterShould you buy a used Volkswagen Crafter?
The Volkswagen Crafter has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.2% across 720,441 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Volkswagen Crafter are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (12,487 recorded failures), track rod end ball joint has excessive play (6,349), and registration plate lamp not working (6,198). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Volkswagen Crafter with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Volkswagen Crafter owner drives around 9,371 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Volkswagen Crafter models stay on UK roads for around 20 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.