Volkswagen Transporter T30 H-Line MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 6 model years and 10,710 tests, the Volkswagen Transporter T30 H-Line passes its MOT 89.3% of the time. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.0%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.3%) and suspension (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 293 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 24.3% in the 150k+ band, a 16.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Transporter T30 H-Line model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,078 | 89.3% | 10.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 3,833 | 88.8% | 11.2% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 3,847 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 1,905 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 42 | 95.2% | 4.8% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 457 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.6% | 383 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 352 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 155 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 145 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 129 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 64 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 50 |
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 | 293 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 197 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 192 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 174 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 126 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 119 |
| 7 | Wipers | 76 |
| 8 | Washers | 74 |
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 | 16.1% | 1,727 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 1,066 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.0% | 638 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 547 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 532 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 186 |
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 | 4,529 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 4,251 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,330 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 461 | 15.2% |
| 120-150k | 102 | 16.7% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 263 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 1,497 | 8.8% |
| 2024 | 3,500 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 5,447 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Transporter T30 H-Line
- 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.
- Suspension (3.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.3% 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 T30 H-Line?
89.3% of the 10,710 Volkswagen Transporter T30 H-Line MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.7% fail rate, across model years 2019–2024.
What does the Volkswagen Transporter T30 H-Line most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, then suspension (3.6%).
How much does mileage affect Transporter T30 H-Line MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.3% for 150k+, a 16.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,710 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.