2009 Volkswagen Crafter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Volkswagen Crafter passed 75.0% of its 1,568 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 28.3% of the time, so this is 3.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.7%) and lighting & signalling (12.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 128 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 41.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.7% | 230 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 198 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 99 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.0% | 94 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.5% | 70 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 68 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 128 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 72 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 69 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 67 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 61 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 57 |
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 | 41.3% | 647 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.0% | 439 |
| 3 | Other defects | 21.2% | 333 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.8% | 327 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.1% | 253 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 223 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 82 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 149 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 294 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 281 | 26.7% |
| 150k+ | 732 | 26.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 251 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 305 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 334 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 340 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 338 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Crafter
On a 2009 Crafter, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (14.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (6.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2009 Volkswagen Crafters pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 1,568 2009 Volkswagen Crafter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Crafter?
Brakes, recorded in 14.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.6%).
Does the 2009 Crafter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 30-60k band to 26.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,568 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.