The picture
Transporter: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 366,115 MOT tests, the Transporter returns 73.1% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a number-plate lamp out. Windscreen damage and a split CV-joint boot round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 120,249, 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.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
27,514 occurrences · 7.5% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
19,851 occurrences · 5.4% of tests
- 03
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
11,740 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 04
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
11,550 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 05
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
11,101 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 06
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
7,634 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 07
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
7,593 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 08
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
6,875 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 09
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
6,735 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 10
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
6,287 occurrences · 1.7% 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.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£168–£515
If every one of this Transporter's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
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.
Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
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.
Buying or keeping a Transporter?
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 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.