2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline — MOT failures & pass rate
5,575 MOT tests on the 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline are in this dataset, and 85.9% of them passed. That is 3.9 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 (6.5%) and suspension (5.9%) 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 pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 201 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.9% versus 8.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.8% of tests failed in 2022 against 17.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 361 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.9% | 329 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.0% | 226 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 143 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 99 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.7% | 96 |
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 | 201 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 185 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 102 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 95 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 91 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 90 |
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 | 16.3% | 906 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 602 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.6% | 481 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.5% | 476 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 365 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 289 |
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 | 981 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,826 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,561 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 787 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 286 | 18.2% |
| 150k+ | 134 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,337 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 1,412 | 14.2% |
| 2024 | 1,384 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 1,438 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transporter T28 Startline
On a 2019 Transporter T28 Startline, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.9% 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 (4.0% 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.
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 Startlines pass their MOT?
85.9% of the 5,575 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by suspension (5.9%).
Does the 2019 Transporter T28 Startline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 20.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,575 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.