MOT failure data · 2025

Volkswagen Transporter MOT problems

Across every Volkswagen Transporter that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was coil spring fractured or broken, on 4.91% of failure items. The broadest problem area was suspension at 24.99%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Volkswagen Transporter MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Coil spring fractured or broken	Suspension	4.91%
2	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	4.17%
3	Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis, structure	3.56%
4	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	2.95%
5	Ball joint dust cover ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Suspension	2.78%
6	Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively	Visibility	2.55%
7	Position lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2.48%
8	Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength	Suspension	2.46%
9	Ball joint ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	2.37%
10	Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction	Noise, emissions and leaks	2.23%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Volkswagen Transporter, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Volkswagen Transporter buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Volkswagen Transporter?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Volkswagen models

Volkswagen Transporter MOT FAQs

What does a Volkswagen Transporter most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Volkswagen Transporter cars failing their 2025 MOT was "coil spring fractured or broken", appearing on 4.91% of failure items.

Does this mean my Volkswagen Transporter will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Volkswagen Transporter that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Volkswagen Transporter passed 72.88% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Volkswagen Transporter's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.