Volkswagen
2,608 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Transporter T32 H LN Tdi 4M SAs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 10.1 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
87.6%
Pass-after-fix
1.0%
Fail
10.1%
Avg miles
40,234
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 · 2,608 tests
Pass rate drops 2.8 points across the cohorts — recent Transporter T32 H LN Tdi 4M SA examples are doing worse than the early cars at the same tested age.
Pass
89.2%
Fail
9.9%
PRS
0.1%
Avg mileage at test
47,867 mi
Pass
86.4%
Fail
10.2%
PRS
1.7%
Avg mileage at test
34,829 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 553 MOT tests, the Transporter T32 H-Ln Tdi 4m Sa returns 89.3% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A broken or weak spring and a tyre with the cords showing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 36,414, 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
86 occurrences · 3.3% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
32 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
31 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
29 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
27 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
26 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A tyre fouling a part of the vehicle
20 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
18 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Reflector defective or damaged by up to 50% of the reflecting surface
17 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
15 occurrences · 0.6% 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 2.8-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Volkswagen Transporter T32 H LN Tdi 4M SA makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
89.2%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 89.2% — a 2.8-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, fractured or broken — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band.
Band to be cautious about
86.4%
2021+ registration
On the 2021-on band, the data shows a 86.4% pass rate against a fleet average of 89.2% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has a cut in excess of the…, and has a serious fluid leak. Average mileage on test for this band is 34,829 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (89.2% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2021+ (86.4% pass). That's a 2.8-point spread across 1,533 older tests and 1,075 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
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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 T32 H LN Tdi 4M SA 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.
