2020 Volkswagen Crafter — MOT failures & pass rate
737 MOT tests on the 2020 Volkswagen Crafter are in this dataset, and 88.9% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (14.4% fail rate), the 2020 Crafter comes out 3.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.4%) and emissions & environmental (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 34 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.1% in the 0-30k band and 16.7% in the 120-150k band, a 11.5-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 13.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.5% of tests failed in 2023 against 13.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 47 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 26 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.3% | 24 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 23 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 22 |
| 3 | Wipers | 15 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 11 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 10 |
| 6 | Joints | 8 |
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 | 13.0% | 96 |
| 2 | Tyres | 9.6% | 71 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 43 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 39 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 32 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.9% | 29 |
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 | 291 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 194 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 101 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 78 | 19.2% |
| 120-150k | 48 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 123 | 6.5% |
| 2024 | 283 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 293 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Crafter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (3.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2020 Volkswagen Crafters pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 737 2020 Volkswagen Crafter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Crafter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.5%).
Does the 2020 Crafter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 737 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.