2014 Volkswagen Crafter — MOT failures & pass rate
3,922 MOT tests on the 2014 Volkswagen Crafter are in this dataset, and 79.6% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (23.4% fail rate), the 2014 Crafter comes out 3.0pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 13.3% of all tests — 4.6 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), rigid brake pipes and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 290 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.2% versus 12.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.3% | 521 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 339 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.3% | 170 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 156 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 117 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.2% | 88 |
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) | 290 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 201 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 135 |
| 4 | Wipers | 111 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 105 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 97 |
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 | 32.3% | 1,266 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.3% | 758 |
| 3 | Other defects | 15.7% | 617 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.2% | 557 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.4% | 330 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 311 |
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 | 98 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 479 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 649 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 913 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 838 | 24.6% |
| 150k+ | 945 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 557 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 718 | 20.2% |
| 2023 | 718 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 978 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 951 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Crafter
On a 2014 Crafter, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (13.3% 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 (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2014 Volkswagen Crafters pass their MOT?
79.6% of the 3,922 2014 Volkswagen Crafter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volkswagen Crafter?
Brakes, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.6%).
Does the 2014 Crafter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,922 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.