2021 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline passed 81.8% of its 3,107 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 8.6% of the time, so this is 9.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.0%) and suspension (7.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, headlamp aim and brake pads — shock absorbers alone was recorded 150 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.1% once past 120-150k — 2.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 247 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 231 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.6% | 144 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 117 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 97 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 67 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 150 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 143 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 100 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 70 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 67 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 57 |
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 | 20.5% | 636 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 434 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.0% | 281 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 201 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.8% | 180 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 142 |
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 | 666 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,241 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 866 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 260 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 53 | 15.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 68 | 13.2% |
| 2024 | 1,513 | 17.8% |
| 2025 | 1,522 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Transporter T30 Startline
On a 2021 Transporter T30 Startline, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% 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 (4.6% 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 2021 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startlines pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 3,107 2021 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by suspension (7.4%).
Does the 2021 Transporter T30 Startline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 15.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,107 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.