1991 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1991 Volkswagen Transporter passed 73.1% of its 5,049 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (29.5% fail rate), the 1991 Transporter comes out 2.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.1% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, wipers and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 469 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Transporter fails 26.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 29.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.7pp more often than petrol ones (28.7% vs 25.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 764 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.8% | 547 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.4% | 526 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 489 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.1% | 408 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.0% | 251 |
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 | 469 |
| 2 | Wipers | 285 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 244 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 236 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 201 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 198 |
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 | 35.2% | 1,778 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.1% | 1,722 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.7% | 1,046 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.0% | 911 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.5% | 835 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.8% | 698 |
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 | 56 | 26.8% |
| 30-60k | 135 | 25.9% |
| 60-90k | 566 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 988 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,066 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,237 | 29.7% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,548 | 25.0% |
| Diesel | 2,501 | 28.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,002 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 1,080 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 1,069 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 965 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 933 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Transporter
On a 1991 Transporter, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.8% 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 (10.4% 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 1991 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 5,049 1991 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Volkswagen Transporter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (10.8%).
Does the 1991 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,049 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.