2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 — MOT failures & pass rate
5,373 MOT tests on the 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 are in this dataset, and 87.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 10.2% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.5%) and lighting & signalling (5.2%) 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 brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 214 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.0% once past 150k — 4.6× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.3% of tests failed in 2022 against 16.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.5% | 294 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 281 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.8% | 204 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 91 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 89 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 80 |
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 | 214 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 207 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 88 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 77 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 74 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 71 |
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 | 17.5% | 940 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 548 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.6% | 465 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.4% | 398 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 229 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 215 |
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 | 1,446 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,190 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,099 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 429 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 159 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 50 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,221 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 1,350 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 1,400 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 1,397 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transporter T28
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.5% 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 (5.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.8% 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 T28s pass their MOT?
87.0% of the 5,373 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T28?
Suspension, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.2%).
Does the 2019 Transporter T28 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,373 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.