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Volkswagen Transporter reliability by build year

Coverage 2003-20242 named generationspanel vanVanDIESEL / PETROL
At a glance

Volkswagen Transporter built around 2018: about average at the MOT

Volkswagen Transporters built around 2018 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age.

Check a Volkswagen Transporter by number plate

Key figure

19% of MOT tests on Volkswagen Transporters built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 22% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Volkswagen Transporters built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Volkswagen Transporter's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Transporter's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Transporter T6/T6.1

T6/T6.1 (2015-2024)

Too close to call between ratings
DIESELPETROL

19.4% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

From 28,254 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Transporter T5

T5 (2003-2014)

Too close to call between ratings
DIESELPETROLUNKNOWN

24.9% fail rate, built around 2013 (12 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 26.3%)

From 7,399 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Volkswagen Transporter.

See every build year for the Volkswagen Transporter

Side-by-side

Volkswagen Transporter generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
T6/T6.1 (2015-2024)
No ratingToo close to call between ratings
No ratingToo close to call between ratings19.4%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 28,254 MOT tests at this age
T5 (2003-2014)
No ratingToo close to call between ratings
No ratingToo close to call between ratings24.9%built around 2013 (12 years old)from 7,399 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Transporter, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Volkswagen Transporter fail rate by age

This chart combines every Volkswagen Transporter ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
20,00615.3%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
24,70115.9%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
20,67917.4%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
26,13118.1%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
28,25419.4%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
26,95420.2%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
25,65321.2%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
23,93423.1%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
20,72223.8%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
18,89824.0%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
17,08125.6%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
16,14826.4%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
14,12928.1%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
13,94930.0%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
18,65730.3%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
17,72331.4%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
14,68431.7%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
13,71831.9%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
10,38932.0%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
9,09732.3%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
8,63032.4%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
7,18932.8%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
35,67032.1%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 24 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the Volkswagen Transporter stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other Volkswagen models

14th of 16

14th lowest fail rate of 16 Volkswagen models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the highest third

Against other vans

2nd of 4

2nd lowest fail rate of 4 vans with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the middle third

Against the UK average

19.4%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old Volkswagen Transporters

These issues come from 7-year-old Volkswagen Transporters, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    15.2%
    Advisory: 6,407Fail: 511 (7% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    8.9%
    Advisory: 3,529Fail: 608 (15% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    8.2%
    Advisory: 2,593Fail: 339 (12% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    6.4%
    Advisory: 2,712Fail: 26 (1% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Oil leak, but not excessive

    6.1%
    Advisory: 1,706Fail: 24 (1% of the times it was found)

Based on 28,254 MOT tests on 7-year-old Volkswagen Transporters, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old Volkswagen Transporters notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Tyres22%
  2. Suspension + Tyres21%
  3. Brakes + Suspension19%
  4. Other + Tyres14%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 8,234 MOT tests on Volkswagen Transporter cars built around 2018 (7 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

96%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · About typical

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

27 recalls in all

21 of the 27 Volkswagen Transporter recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 3 Critical
  • 18 more

Top concerns

  • Takata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement
  • Steering rack and lower wishbone fastenings and chafing of the light switch harness
  • Side airbag of front left seat may not deploy correctly in collision & may have some passenger collision protection miss

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other vans to compare

Other vans to compare

  1. 1

    Renault Trafic

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    27.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    5.7%
    Dangerous
    5.9%
    Still registered at 10 years
    89%

    No clear edge over the Volkswagen Transporter on these figures.

    13,290 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Peugeot Partner

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    28.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    4.8%
    Dangerous
    6.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    91%

    No clear edge over the Volkswagen Transporter on these figures.

    20,187 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the Volkswagen Transporter across all generations combined fails MOTs slightly more often than typical for this age. It has the 14th lowest fail rate of 16 Volkswagen models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 28,254 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Volkswagen Transporter ever sold: 433,082 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 28,254 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.