Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Line MOT pass rate & common failures
The Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Line appears in 8,723 MOT tests spanning model years 2019–2023, and 90.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (9.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and suspension (2.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 180 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 11.9% versus 7.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.1% in 2022 to 10.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Transporter T32 H-Line model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 359 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Suspension |
| 2020 | 4,451 | 89.5% | 10.4% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 2,798 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 1,091 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 370 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.7% | 232 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 179 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 130 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 128 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 75 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 53 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.6% | 50 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 180 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 140 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 136 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 121 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 97 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 85 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 69 |
| 8 | Washers | 67 |
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% | 1,415 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 919 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.8% | 506 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 405 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.0% | 349 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 106 |
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 | 2,886 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,102 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,235 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 377 | 13.8% |
| 120-150k | 81 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 99 | 12.1% |
| 2023 | 1,506 | 9.5% |
| 2024 | 2,972 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 4,146 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Line
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Suspension (2.7% 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 (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 H-Line?
90.0% of the 8,723 Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Line MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.0% fail rate, across model years 2019–2023.
What does the Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Line most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, then suspension (2.7%).
How much does mileage affect Transporter T32 H-Line MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 11.9% for 150k+, a 4.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,723 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.