1995 Volkswagen Lt — MOT failures & pass rate
278 MOT tests on the 1995 Volkswagen Lt are in this dataset, and 66.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 24.2% of the time, so this is 9.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 25.5% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, rbt (sp) and position lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 39 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 31.1% in the 60-90k band and 39.3% in the 150k+ band, a 8.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.9% in 2021 to 33.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 25.5% | 71 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.9% | 58 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 28 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 27 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 21 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 39 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 28 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 24 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 19 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.5% | 96 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.5% | 96 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 25.5% | 71 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.8% | 69 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.1% | 42 |
| 6 | Steering | 11.9% | 33 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 74 | 31.1% |
| 90-120k | 57 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 63 | 34.9% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 39.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43 | 34.9% |
| 2022 | 62 | 35.5% |
| 2023 | 63 | 33.3% |
| 2024 | 53 | 30.2% |
| 2025 | 57 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Lt
On a 1995 Lt, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 25.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (25.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (20.9% 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.
- Suspension (10.1% 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 1995 Volkswagen Lts pass their MOT?
66.5% of the 278 1995 Volkswagen Lt MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Volkswagen Lt?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.5% of tests, followed by brakes (20.9%).
Does the 1995 Lt get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.1% in the 60-90k band to 39.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 278 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.