Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline MOT pass rate & common failures
28,947 MOT tests on the Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline (2019–2023) give it an 85.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (9.1% fail rate), the Transporter T28 Startline comes out 5.3pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.7%) and suspension (6.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,124 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.2% in the 0-30k band and 21.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.8% of tests failed in 2022 against 14.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Transporter T28 Startline model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5,575 | 85.9% | 14.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 10,352 | 84.6% | 15.4% | Suspension |
| 2021 | 9,646 | 85.8% | 14.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 3,262 | 87.1% | 12.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2023 | 112 | 86.6% | 13.4% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 1,942 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.3% | 1,810 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.2% | 1,224 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 815 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.2% | 632 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 521 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 238 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 128 |
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 | 1,124 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 905 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 829 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 622 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 482 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 461 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 452 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 418 |
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% | 4,574 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 3,254 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 2,027 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 1,648 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 1,425 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 1,186 |
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 | 7,626 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 11,296 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 6,683 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,390 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 723 | 19.8% |
| 150k+ | 229 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,382 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 4,953 | 15.4% |
| 2024 | 9,631 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 12,976 | 14.6% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.3% 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 (4.2% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline?
85.5% of the 28,947 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 14.5% fail rate, across model years 2019–2023.
What does the Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests, then suspension (6.3%).
How much does mileage affect Transporter T28 Startline MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.0% for 150k+, a 12.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,947 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.