Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Ln 4M Sa MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 5 model years and 3,008 tests, the Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Ln 4M Sa passes its MOT 89.3% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 8.8% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.8%) and suspension (3.1%) 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 brake pads — coil spring alone was recorded 59 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.1% versus 7.3%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.3% of tests failed in 2022 against 10.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Transporter T32 H-Ln 4M Sa model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 130 | 89.2% | 10.8% | Suspension |
| 2020 | 1,025 | 89.8% | 10.2% | Suspension |
| 2021 | 1,374 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 477 | 90.1% | 9.8% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.8% | 115 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.1% | 93 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 58 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 57 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 37 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 32 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 25 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 21 |
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 | 59 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 53 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 47 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 40 |
| 5 | Joints | 40 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 38 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 21 |
| 8 | Wipers | 20 |
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 | 13.4% | 403 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.7% | 322 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 152 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 111 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.4% | 102 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 29 |
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 | 1,206 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,321 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 362 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 83 | 18.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 70 | 4.3% |
| 2023 | 394 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 1,030 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 1,509 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Ln 4M Sa
- Tyres (3.8% 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 (3.1% 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 (1.9% 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-Ln 4M Sa?
89.3% of the 3,008 Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Ln 4M Sa MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.7% fail rate, across model years 2019–2023.
What does the Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Ln 4M Sa most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 3.8% of tests, then suspension (3.1%).
How much does mileage affect Transporter T32 H-Ln 4M Sa MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 18.1% for 90-120k, a 10.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,008 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.