2019 Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 605 MOT tests, the 2019 Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle recorded an 86.5% pass rate. That is 3.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.5%) and tyres (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 19 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.9% versus 6.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 15.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 27 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.6% | 22 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.5% | 21 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 17 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 15 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.3% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 19 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 3 | Wipers | 15 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 10 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | 15.7% | 95 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.7% | 89 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.1% | 37 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 27 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 16 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.6% | 16 |
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 | 125 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 262 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 110 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 10.2% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36 | 13.9% |
| 2022 | 112 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 143 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 162 | 13.6% |
| 2025 | 152 | 13.8% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transporter Shuttle
On a 2019 Transporter Shuttle, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.6% 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.
- Brakes (3.5% 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 2019 Volkswagen Transporter Shuttles pass their MOT?
86.5% of the 605 2019 Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by tyres (3.6%).
Does the 2019 Transporter Shuttle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 605 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.