2012 Volkswagen Crafter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Volkswagen Crafter passed 75.8% of its 3,343 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 25.8% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (15.7%) and lighting & signalling (13.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), rigid brake pipes and track rod end — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 269 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.8% in the 0-30k band and 27.2% in the 150k+ band, a 17.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.7% | 525 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 446 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.0% | 168 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.9% | 164 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.5% | 149 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 132 |
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) | 269 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 225 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 149 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 140 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 122 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 119 |
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 | 39.4% | 1,318 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.3% | 745 |
| 3 | Other defects | 21.0% | 702 |
| 4 | Tyres | 15.8% | 530 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 441 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.7% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 41 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 177 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 422 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 775 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 868 | 25.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,054 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 549 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 646 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 616 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 774 | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 758 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Crafter
On a 2012 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 (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2012 Volkswagen Crafters pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 3,343 2012 Volkswagen Crafter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volkswagen Crafter?
Brakes, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.3%).
Does the 2012 Crafter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,343 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.