2018 Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmt — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmt passed 88.2% of its 865 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (11.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.0%) and tyres (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 Transporter T32 Bmt fails 9.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.7% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.9 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.0% in 2021 to 8.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 43 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 37 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 25 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.4% | 21 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 18 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 16 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 23 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 16 |
| 4 | Washers | 10 |
| 5 | Wipers | 8 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 8 |
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% | 146 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 118 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.5% | 99 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 39 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.6% | 31 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.5% | 30 |
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 | 136 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 375 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 268 | 10.8% |
| 90-120k | 52 | 7.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 154 | 13.0% |
| 2022 | 157 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 180 | 16.1% |
| 2024 | 182 | 11.0% |
| 2025 | 192 | 8.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Transporter T32 Bmt
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2018 Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmts pass their MOT?
88.2% of the 865 2018 Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmt MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volkswagen Transporter T32 Bmt?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2018 Transporter T32 Bmt get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 7.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 865 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.