1987 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1987 Volkswagen Transporter passed 72.4% of its 4,179 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (28.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests against 11.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 420 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1987 Transporter fails 29.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.2% of the time against 28.5% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.3% in 2021 to 26.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 634 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.0% | 460 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.1% | 420 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 336 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 296 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.1% | 213 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 420 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 225 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 206 |
| 4 | Washers | 187 |
| 5 | Wipers | 181 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 177 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.4% | 1,521 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.9% | 1,250 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.8% | 658 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 653 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.6% | 567 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.5% | 397 |
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 | 261 | 29.9% |
| 30-60k | 317 | 28.7% |
| 60-90k | 447 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 699 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 912 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,526 | 28.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,942 | 27.2% |
| Diesel | 1,237 | 28.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 821 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 924 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 864 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 791 | 26.8% |
| 2025 | 779 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Transporter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.0% 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.
- Brakes (10.1% 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
How many 1987 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 4,179 1987 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Volkswagen Transporter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by suspension (11.0%).
Does the 1987 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.9% in the 0-30k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,179 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.