2010 Volkswagen Crafter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,479 MOT tests, the 2010 Volkswagen Crafter recorded a 74.5% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 15.7% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), malfunction indicator lamp and rigid brake pipes — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 224 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.1% in the 30-60k band and 27.2% in the 150k+ band, a 11.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.7% | 388 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 304 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 212 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.6% | 138 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.0% | 124 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 101 |
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) | 224 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 185 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 137 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 122 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 118 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 87 |
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 | 39.1% | 969 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.4% | 680 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 17.8% | 440 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.5% | 433 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.8% | 417 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 325 |
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 | 93 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 291 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 380 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 589 | 28.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,092 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 400 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 489 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 455 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 583 | 26.8% |
| 2025 | 552 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Crafter
On a 2010 Crafter, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (15.7% 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 (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.6% 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 2010 Volkswagen Crafters pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 2,479 2010 Volkswagen Crafter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volkswagen Crafter?
Brakes, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.3%).
Does the 2010 Crafter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 30-60k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,479 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.