2019 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline passed 79.4% of its 1,997 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), the 2019 Transporter T30 Startline comes out 10.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and suspension (8.3%) 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 109 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.1% in the 0-30k band and 18.8% in the 150k+ band, a 6.6-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.3% of tests failed in 2022 against 24.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 184 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.3% | 165 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.0% | 120 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 79 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.7% | 74 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 61 |
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 | 109 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 105 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 73 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 62 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 60 |
| 6 | Wipers | 55 |
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 | 18.9% | 378 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 333 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.3% | 225 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.1% | 202 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 174 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 170 |
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 | 363 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 771 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 494 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 237 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 100 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 468 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 468 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 528 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 533 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transporter T30 Startline
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.3% 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 (6.0% 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 T30 Startlines pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 1,997 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by suspension (8.3%).
Does the 2019 Transporter T30 Startline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,997 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.