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E281 RMS

1988 Volkswagen Transporter

Red Petrol 1915cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Mar 2027
Tests24 (19 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate79.2%

Mileage

196,872 mi
Last recorded196,872 miles
Recorded on17 Feb 2026
Typical for 1988 Volkswagen Transporter126,992 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationE281 RMS
MakeVolkswagen
ModelTransporter
Year1988
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,915cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

19 pass 5 fail
Pass 17 Feb 2026 196,872 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2025 196,080 miles
Fail 24 Aug 2024 196,066 miles

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive suspension arm bush prescribed area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

offside front outrigger prescribed area corroded

Pass 4 Aug 2023 194,760 miles

Front Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security suspension mounts x 2 (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

underside undersealed

very slight leak at steering rack

Pass 23 Jul 2022 193,704 miles
Pass 14 Aug 2021 192,601 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2020 192,181 miles
Pass 4 May 2019 191,385 miles
Pass 5 May 2018 189,820 miles
Pass 1 May 2017 188,507 miles
Pass 10 May 2016 187,588 miles

all floor pans and chassis legs in and around prescribed areas all slightly corroded

Pass 8 May 2015 186,395 miles
Pass 14 May 2014 185,366 miles
Pass 8 May 2013 184,468 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.4e)

Fail 15 May 2012 18,445 miles

Centre Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Upper Bonded suspension unit deteriorated and cannot function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Fail 6 May 2011 182,602 miles

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Pass 6 May 2011 182,602 miles
Pass 12 May 2010 180,507 miles
Fail 29 Apr 2010 180,507 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 2 Feb 2009 178,738 miles
Fail 2 Feb 2009 178,736 miles

Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

offside rear body corroded outwith prescribed areas

Pass 1 Feb 2008 173,642 miles

Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 1 Feb 2007 170,987 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 9 Feb 2006 168,128 miles

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Transporter?

Based on 5,346,355 MOT tests across 357,225 vehicles.

73.0%
Pass Rate
5,816
Miles/Year
42
Year Lifespan
357,225
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Registration plate lamp not working 89,943
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 68,503
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 59,686
position lamp(s) not working 56,717
Stop lamp not working 56,335
Full Volkswagen Transporter reliability report

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E281 RMS is a 1988 Volkswagen Transporter in Red with a 1,915cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 79.2%.

Across all 1988 Volkswagen Transporter models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.5% with a typical mileage of 126,992 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Transporter fails its MOT is registration plate lamp not working, accounting for 89,943 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E281 RMS, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Transporter typically stays on UK roads for around 42 years. At 38 years old, this Volkswagen Transporter is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E281 RMS?

You can check the full history of E281 RMS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E281 RMS registered?

E281 RMS is a 1988 Volkswagen Transporter, first registered on 1 March 1988.

Is E281 RMS safe to buy?

The MOT history for E281 RMS shows 24 tests with a 79.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E281 RMS have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on E281 RMS. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.