2015 Volkswagen Crafter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,663 MOT tests, the 2015 Volkswagen Crafter recorded an 80.9% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (21.8% fail rate), the 2015 Crafter comes out 2.7pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 11.8% of tests against 8.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), rigid brake pipes and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 219 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.3% versus 7.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.8% | 432 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 300 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.7% | 137 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 122 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 105 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.7% | 100 |
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) | 219 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 150 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 110 |
| 4 | Wipers | 104 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 98 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 73 |
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 | 33.1% | 1,211 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.1% | 699 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.3% | 523 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.7% | 356 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.5% | 312 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 289 |
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 | 113 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 463 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 877 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 869 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 657 | 23.4% |
| 150k+ | 684 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 563 | 19.5% |
| 2022 | 632 | 16.8% |
| 2023 | 676 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 909 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 883 | 20.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Crafter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (11.8% 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 (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.7% 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 2015 Volkswagen Crafters pass their MOT?
80.9% of the 3,663 2015 Volkswagen Crafter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volkswagen Crafter?
Brakes, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.2%).
Does the 2015 Crafter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,663 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.