Volkswagen Transporter Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volkswagen Transporter car check
Is the Volkswagen Transporter reliable? We analysed 5,346,355 real MOT tests across 357,225 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volkswagen Transporter? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volkswagen Transporter is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include registration plate lamp not working, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Transporter.
Volkswagen Transporter Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Transporter. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volkswagen Transporter MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volkswagen Transporter to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volkswagen Transporter Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Volkswagen Transporter fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Volkswagen Transporter Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Volkswagen Transporter models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Volkswagen Transporter Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Transporter owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volkswagen Transporter MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Transporter year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 93 | 77.4% | 25,923 | 50,659 | 73,831 |
| 2021 | 279 | 85.3% | 25,779 | 42,399 | 62,527 |
| 2020 | 3,281 | 85.1% | 23,374 | 39,137 | 61,448 |
| 2019 | 79,561 | 84.3% | 29,732 | 45,972 | 69,438 |
| 2018 | 144,256 | 83.2% | 34,181 | 53,130 | 80,026 |
| 2017 | 176,023 | 82.9% | 38,234 | 58,230 | 85,947 |
| 2016 | 192,122 | 82.3% | 42,386 | 64,758 | 94,288 |
| 2015 | 200,798 | 80.7% | 45,577 | 69,781 | 100,971 |
| 2014 | 199,609 | 79.6% | 50,089 | 76,517 | 109,360 |
| 2013 | 201,207 | 79.2% | 55,721 | 84,645 | 120,032 |
| 2012 | 192,645 | 77.8% | 58,753 | 88,875 | 125,507 |
| 2011 | 204,491 | 77.6% | 63,012 | 96,014 | 135,455 |
| 2010 | 198,849 | 76.3% | 65,661 | 100,286 | 140,159 |
| 2009 | 187,098 | 73.6% | 64,606 | 100,754 | 141,763 |
| 2008 | 287,023 | 72.8% | 70,565 | 108,456 | 151,347 |
| 2007 | 330,477 | 71.5% | 76,675 | 115,901 | 158,669 |
| 2006 | 296,417 | 71.1% | 79,103 | 120,408 | 165,021 |
| 2005 | 277,993 | 70.6% | 81,990 | 124,669 | 170,642 |
| 2004 | 268,926 | 69.6% | 86,305 | 129,102 | 173,549 |
| 2003 | 216,125 | 69.8% | 81,529 | 124,259 | 169,781 |
How Long Does a Volkswagen Transporter Last?
Based on 357,225 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles on UK roads.
Volkswagen Transporter Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Transporter 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 Transporter
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
85.3% MOT pass rate from 279 tests
62.3% MOT pass rate from 5,344 tests
The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Transporter is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.3% across 279 tests. The 1980 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volkswagen Transporter Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Transporter THIS CAR | 73.0% | 5,346,355 | 105,114 mi | 42 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 |
| Peugeot 306 | 65.4% | 3,183,877 | 96,765 mi | 33 yrs |
Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Transporter sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Volkswagen Transporter 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 TransporterShould you buy a used Volkswagen Transporter?
The Volkswagen Transporter has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.0% across 5,346,355 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Volkswagen Transporter are registration plate lamp not working (89,943 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (68,503), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (59,686). 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 tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Volkswagen Transporter 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 Transporter owner drives around 5,816 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 Transporter models stay on UK roads for around 42 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.