Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmt MOT pass rate & common failures
4,646 MOT tests on the Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmt (2018–2021) give it an 88.6% pass rate. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.3%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.7%) and tyres (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 132 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Transporter T32 Bmt fails 8.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Transporter T32 Bmt model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 865 | 88.2% | 11.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 3,469 | 88.7% | 11.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 288 | 89.9% | 10.1% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 216 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.6% | 166 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.7% | 126 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 125 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 91 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.3% | 61 |
| 7 | Suspension | 1.1% | 53 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 50 |
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 | 132 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 96 |
| 3 | Washers | 91 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 86 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 47 |
| 6 | Wipers | 41 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 29 |
| 8 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 28 |
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 | 16.9% | 787 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 515 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.5% | 486 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 174 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.8% | 129 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.1% | 98 |
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 | 1,695 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,870 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 782 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 194 | 13.4% |
| 120-150k | 59 | 17.0% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 6.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 191 | 11.0% |
| 2022 | 976 | 9.5% |
| 2023 | 1,128 | 12.4% |
| 2024 | 1,169 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 1,182 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmt
- Lighting & signalling (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.6% 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.
- Brakes (2.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmt?
88.6% of the 4,646 Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmt MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.4% fail rate, across model years 2018–2021.
What does the Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmt most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.7% of tests, then tyres (3.6%).
How much does mileage affect Transporter T32 Bmt MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 6.8% for 150k+, a 1.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,646 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.