Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line MOT pass rate & common failures
The Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line appears in 7,725 MOT tests spanning model years 2019–2023, and 88.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 8.9% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 304 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.7% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Transporter T28 H-Line model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 999 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 1,979 | 88.7% | 11.3% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 3,255 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 1,447 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2023 | 45 | 93.3% | 6.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 350 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 304 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.7% | 284 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 123 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.4% | 109 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 93 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 49 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.4% | 33 |
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 | 304 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 170 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 149 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 118 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 90 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 87 |
| 7 | Wipers | 65 |
| 8 | Stop lamp | 60 |
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 | 15.8% | 1,218 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 632 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.0% | 464 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 381 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 332 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 128 |
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 | 3,843 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,397 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 879 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 409 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 161 | 15.5% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 258 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 922 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 2,510 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 4,035 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.7% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line?
88.8% of the 7,725 Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.2% fail rate, across model years 2019–2023.
What does the Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, then lighting & signalling (3.9%).
How much does mileage affect Transporter T28 H-Line MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 16.7% for 150k+, a 8.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,725 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.