2014 Volkswagen T-Porter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 499 MOT tests, the 2014 Volkswagen T-Porter recorded a 79.6% pass rate. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.8%) and lighting & signalling (6.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, coil spring and pins and bushes — track rod end alone was recorded 18 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.8% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 18.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.8% | 44 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 30 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.0% | 25 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 24 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.8% | 24 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 18 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 18 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 18 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 17 |
| 5 | Washers | 15 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 14 |
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 | 18.2% | 91 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.2% | 86 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.2% | 66 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.2% | 61 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 55 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.6% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 108 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 161 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 70 | 14.3% |
| 120-150k | 73 | 19.2% |
| 150k+ | 74 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 99 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 99 | 21.2% |
| 2023 | 101 | 22.8% |
| 2024 | 96 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 104 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 T-Porter
On a 2014 T-Porter, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.0% 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 T-Porters pass their MOT?
79.6% of the 499 2014 Volkswagen T-Porter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volkswagen T-Porter?
Suspension, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.0%).
Does the 2014 T-Porter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 30-60k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 499 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.