2020 Volkswagen Transporter T28 — MOT failures & pass rate
10,176 MOT tests on the 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T28 are in this dataset, and 87.8% of them passed. That is 2.8 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.6%) and tyres (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — coil spring alone was recorded 325 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.8% versus 7.8%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 5.5% of tests failed in 2022 against 15.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.6% | 568 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 440 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 393 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 164 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.6% | 164 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 104 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 325 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 323 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 279 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 205 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 163 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 93 |
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 | 16.5% | 1,679 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.1% | 1,023 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 698 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 496 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 473 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 452 |
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 | 3,683 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 4,333 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,612 | 16.6% |
| 90-120k | 407 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 98 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 73 | 5.5% |
| 2023 | 3,254 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 3,345 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 3,503 | 15.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Transporter T28
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.6% 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 (4.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% 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
How many 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T28s pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 10,176 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T28 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T28?
Suspension, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2020 Transporter T28 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,176 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.