2020 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,352 MOT tests, the 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline recorded an 84.6% pass rate. That is 6.1 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.5%) and lighting & signalling (6.6%) 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 shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 417 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.9% versus 9.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.5% of tests failed in 2022 against 16.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.5% | 778 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 680 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 448 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 283 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 213 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 154 |
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 | 417 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 414 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 371 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 193 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 180 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 173 |
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 | 15.2% | 1,572 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 1,169 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.4% | 763 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 753 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.0% | 520 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 487 |
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 | 2,469 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,005 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,579 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 951 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 281 | 22.1% |
| 150k+ | 67 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 42 | 9.5% |
| 2023 | 3,440 | 15.9% |
| 2024 | 3,401 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 3,468 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Transporter T28 Startline
On a 2020 Transporter T28 Startline, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.3% 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 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startlines pass their MOT?
84.6% of the 10,352 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline?
Suspension, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.6%).
Does the 2020 Transporter T28 Startline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 20.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,352 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.