2022 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2022 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline passed 85.2% of its 853 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (8.2% fail rate), the 2022 Transporter T30 Startline comes out 6.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.5%) and suspension (5.5%) 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 malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 40 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.7% versus 10.4%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 55 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.5% | 47 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.1% | 35 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 25 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 24 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.1% | 18 |
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 | 40 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 28 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 24 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 19 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 16 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 16 |
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 | 16.2% | 138 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 110 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.4% | 63 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 43 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.7% | 40 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 21 |
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 | 202 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 366 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 224 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 51 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2022 Transporter T30 Startline
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.5% 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 (4.1% 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 2022 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startlines pass their MOT?
85.2% of the 853 2022 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Volkswagen Transporter T30 Startline?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by suspension (5.5%).
Does the 2022 Transporter T30 Startline get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 15.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 853 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.