Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline MOT pass rate & common failures
The Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline appears in 9,062 MOT tests spanning model years 2019–2024, and 82.4% of them passed. That is 8.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.2%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.6%) and suspension (7.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 428 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.4% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Transporter T30 Startline model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,997 | 79.4% | 20.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 3,071 | 84.1% | 15.9% | Suspension |
| 2021 | 3,107 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 853 | 85.2% | 14.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 685 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.5% | 678 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.9% | 440 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 299 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.9% | 267 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 210 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 82 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.6% | 51 |
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 | 428 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 344 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 299 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 265 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 201 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 164 |
| 7 | Wipers | 161 |
| 8 | Washers | 147 |
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 | 18.5% | 1,677 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.7% | 1,331 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.8% | 796 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 637 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 613 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 439 |
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 | 1,893 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 3,461 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,286 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,000 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 328 | 18.6% |
| 150k+ | 94 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 503 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 1,504 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 3,090 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 3,965 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Tyres (4.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline?
82.4% of the 9,062 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 17.6% fail rate, across model years 2019–2024.
What does the Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.6% of tests, then suspension (7.5%).
How much does mileage affect Transporter T30 Startline MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 23.4% for 150k+, a 13.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,062 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.