2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 999 MOT tests, the 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line recorded an 87.5% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.9%) and suspension (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.8% once past 120-150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.3% of tests failed in 2022 against 14.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 59 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 45 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.6% | 36 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 21 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 20 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.8% | 18 |
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 | 33 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 22 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 21 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 20 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 19 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 17 |
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 | 11.5% | 115 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.1% | 91 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 81 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 45 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.7% | 37 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 37 |
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 | 234 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 311 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 195 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 164 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 87 | 13.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 247 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 261 | 12.6% |
| 2024 | 239 | 11.7% |
| 2025 | 252 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transporter T28 H-Line
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.5% 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.
- 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.
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 T28 H-Lines pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 999 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by suspension (4.5%).
Does the 2019 Transporter T28 H-Line get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 999 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.