Volkswagen Transporter T28 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Volkswagen Transporter T28 appears in 25,634 MOT tests spanning model years 2019–2024, and 88.2% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (9.2% fail rate), the Transporter T28 comes out 2.6pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (4.9%) and tyres (4.2%) 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 877 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.3% in the 0-30k band and 25.7% in the 150k+ band, a 18.4-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.1% of tests failed in 2022 against 13.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Transporter T28 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5,373 | 87.0% | 13.0% | Suspension |
| 2020 | 10,176 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Suspension |
| 2021 | 7,819 | 89.1% | 10.9% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 2,189 | 89.7% | 10.3% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 76 | 90.8% | 9.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4.9% | 1,250 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 1,064 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 1,047 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.6% | 415 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 415 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 314 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 139 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 114 |
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 | 877 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 652 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 582 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 436 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 429 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 292 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 256 |
| 8 | Washers | 217 |
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 | 16.8% | 4,315 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.9% | 2,544 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 1,643 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.6% | 1,429 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,166 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 704 |
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 | 10,019 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 10,331 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,792 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,070 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 312 | 22.1% |
| 150k+ | 109 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,294 | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 4,677 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 8,610 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 11,047 | 13.1% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Transporter T28
- Suspension (4.9% 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 (4.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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?
88.2% of the 25,634 Volkswagen Transporter T28 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.8% fail rate, across model years 2019–2024.
What does the Volkswagen Transporter T28 most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 4.9% of tests, then tyres (4.2%).
How much does mileage affect Transporter T28 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 25.7% for 150k+, a 18.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,634 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.