Volkswagen
2,226 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Transporter SE Tdi S As pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 8.9 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
86.4%
Pass-after-fix
2.6%
Fail
10.2%
Avg miles
38,762
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered from September 2015 generally meet Euro 6 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 2,226 tests
Pass rate drops 2.7 points across the cohorts — recent Transporter SE Tdi S A examples are doing worse than the early cars at the same tested age.
Pass
87.7%
Fail
9.7%
PRS
1.6%
Avg mileage at test
43,859 mi
Pass
85.0%
Fail
10.7%
PRS
3.6%
Avg mileage at test
33,049 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 805 MOT tests, the Transporter Se Tdi S-A returns 86.8% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. Windscreen damage and shock absorber damaged to the extent round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 31,234, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
23–35
out of 50
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
45 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
40 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
31 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
16 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
13 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Wiper blade defective
13 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
12 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended
11 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Obligatory mirror or device slightly damaged or loose
10 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
10 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
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Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 2.7-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Volkswagen Transporter SE Tdi S A makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
87.7%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 87.7% — a 2.7-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band.
Band to be cautious about
85.0%
2021+ registration
On the 2021-on band, the data shows a 85.0% pass rate against a fleet average of 87.7% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: has a cut in excess of the…, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, and has a serious fluid leak. Average mileage on test for this band is 33,049 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (87.7% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2021+ (85.0% pass). That's a 2.7-point spread across 1,048 older tests and 1,178 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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Owner reports · Honest John
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
Good to drive, flexible body styles, strong image
Where it falls short
Styling-wise, Volkswagen claims that the latest model has styling that harks back to the original VW Type 2. But from the door backwards, it’s the same shape as the Ford Transit Custom – unsurprising, as the models were co-developed. That means it's marginally bigger than rivals such as the Vauxhall Vivaro and Renault Trafic, both of which feel dated by comparison.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Transporter SE Tdi S A and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
