2020 Volkswagen Transporter S — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 482 MOT tests, the 2020 Volkswagen Transporter S recorded an 85.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (9.4% fail rate), the 2020 Transporter S comes out 5.1pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.0%) and lighting & signalling (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Transporter S fails 13.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 16.7% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.6% of tests failed in 2023 against 14.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.0% | 24 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 20 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.9% | 14 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 13 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 12 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 8 |
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 | 16 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 9 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 8 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 6 |
| 5 | Attachment | 6 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.3% | 88 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 68 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.9% | 43 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.2% | 20 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.9% | 19 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 15 |
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 | 147 | 13.6% |
| 30-60k | 252 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 66 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 146 | 11.6% |
| 2024 | 162 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 167 | 14.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Transporter S
On a 2020 Transporter S, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.9% 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.
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 Transporter Ss pass their MOT?
85.5% of the 482 2020 Volkswagen Transporter S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Transporter S?
Tyres, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.2%).
Does the 2020 Transporter S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 482 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.