CarVerify

Free Car Check

E31 SDH

1988 Volkswagen Transporter

Blue Diesel 1588cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Apr 2027
Tests15 (9 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

239,947 mi
Last recorded239,947 miles
Recorded on30 Apr 2026
Typical for 1988 Volkswagen Transporter126,992 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationE31 SDH
MakeVolkswagen
ModelTransporter
Year1988
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,588cc

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

9 pass 6 fail
Pass 30 Apr 2026 239,947 miles

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 31 Mar 2025 239,900 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2024 239,791 miles
Fail 21 Feb 2024 239,791 miles

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

Offside Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

Pass 20 Mar 2023 239,503 miles

areas of general corrosion

Pass 1 Nov 2010 239,084 miles
Fail 21 Oct 2010 239,037 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Nearside Front An item not tested (Manual)

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 28 Nov 2009 236,625 miles
Fail 26 Nov 2009 236,621 miles

Nearside Front Upper Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the left (1.8)

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside (1.8)

Due to non standard wheels fitted to the front of the vehicle the top wishbones have neglidgable clearence with the tyre sidewall, this may well present a problem with an underinflated tyre.

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

corrosion nearside outter sill not perscribed area.

corrosion offside outter sill not perscribed area

heavy coolant leak hose not secured properly

Pass 7 Aug 2008 228,187 miles
Fail 6 Aug 2008 228,187 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 2 May 2007 216,048 miles
Fail 1 May 2007 216,048 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Pass 27 Mar 2006 213,786 miles
Fail 22 Mar 2006 213,786 miles

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour (7.4.B.4)

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

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

E31 SDH is a 1988 Volkswagen Transporter in Blue with a 1,588cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 E31 SDH, 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 E31 SDH?

You can check the full history of E31 SDH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E31 SDH registered?

E31 SDH is a 1988 Volkswagen Transporter, first registered on 15 February 1988.

Is E31 SDH safe to buy?

The MOT history for E31 SDH shows 15 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E31 SDH 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 E31 SDH. 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.