2020 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline — MOT failures & pass rate
3,071 MOT tests on the 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline are in this dataset, and 84.1% of them passed. That is 6.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.6%) and lighting & signalling (6.4%) 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 shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 135 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.4% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.6% | 235 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 197 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.6% | 140 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 78 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.5% | 77 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 58 |
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 | 135 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 124 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 120 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 72 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 50 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 44 |
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 | 17.0% | 523 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 453 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.7% | 268 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.7% | 207 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 176 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.4% | 166 |
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 | 655 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,077 | 15.3% |
| 60-90k | 690 | 19.0% |
| 90-120k | 445 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 163 | 15.3% |
| 150k+ | 41 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 31 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 968 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 1,030 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 1,042 | 16.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Transporter T30 Startline
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.6% 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 (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.6% 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 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startlines pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 3,071 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline?
Suspension, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.4%).
Does the 2020 Transporter T30 Startline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,071 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.