2020 Volkswagen Crafter Cr35 — MOT failures & pass rate
601 MOT tests on the 2020 Volkswagen Crafter Cr35 are in this dataset, and 87.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (9.5% fail rate), the 2020 Crafter Cr35 comes out 3.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.0%) and emissions & environmental (3.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 19 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.1% in the 0-30k band and 22.2% in the 120-150k band, a 18.1-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 11.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.1% in 2023 to 10.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 36 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 22 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.7% | 16 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 16 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.5% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 15 |
| 3 | Joints | 15 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 10 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.0% | 66 |
| 2 | Tyres | 10.5% | 63 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.7% | 34 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 29 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 22 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.7% | 16 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 123 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 210 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 144 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 63 | 11.1% |
| 120-150k | 45 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 132 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 243 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 223 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Crafter Cr35
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (2.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Volkswagen Crafter Cr35s pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 601 2020 Volkswagen Crafter Cr35 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Crafter Cr35?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.7%).
Does the 2020 Crafter Cr35 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.1% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 601 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.