Volkswagen T-Porter MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 31 model years and 1,544 tests, the Volkswagen T-Porter passes its MOT 78.6% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 20.1% of the time, so this is 1.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.0%) and suspension (8.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, registration plate lamp(s) and pins and bushes — washers alone was recorded 50 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 27.7% versus 17.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every T-Porter model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 87 | 82.8% | 17.2% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 660 | 81.2% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 499 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Suspension |
| 2015 | 36 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Steering |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 139 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.9% | 138 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 103 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.7% | 72 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 69 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.9% | 45 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 42 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 50 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 48 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 47 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 40 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 36 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 36 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 35 |
| 8 | Coil spring | 33 |
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 | 22.2% | 343 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.1% | 310 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.7% | 304 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 216 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.4% | 160 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 96 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 177 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 326 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 301 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 262 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 455 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 320 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 319 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 305 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 297 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 303 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen T-Porter
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.9% 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.
- Brakes (6.7% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen T-Porter?
78.6% of the 1,544 Volkswagen T-Porter MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.4% fail rate, across model years 1988–2018.
What does the Volkswagen T-Porter most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.0% of tests, then suspension (8.9%).
How much does mileage affect T-Porter MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.0% for cars in the 30-60k band and 27.7% for 150k+, a 10.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,544 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.