2020 Volkswagen Transporter T30 — MOT failures & pass rate
4,893 MOT tests on the 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T30 are in this dataset, and 85.6% of them passed. That is 5.0 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 (6.9%) and lighting & signalling (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and shock absorbers — coil spring alone was recorded 179 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.1% versus 8.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.9% | 337 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 259 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.1% | 249 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 120 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 92 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.8% | 90 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 179 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 155 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 134 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 129 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 107 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 74 |
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 | 18.2% | 891 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 616 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 379 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.2% | 304 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 271 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 249 |
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 | 1,255 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,174 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 961 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 342 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 122 | 18.9% |
| 150k+ | 39 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,575 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 1,655 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 1,644 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Transporter T30
On a 2020 Transporter T30, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (6.9% 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 (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T30s pass their MOT?
85.6% of the 4,893 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Transporter T30?
Suspension, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.3%).
Does the 2020 Transporter T30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,893 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.