1995 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
14,052 MOT tests on the 1995 Volkswagen Transporter are in this dataset, and 69.4% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail at 30.0%, so the 1995 Transporter sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.9% of all tests — 6.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,294 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1995 Transporter fails 31.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 33.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.4% of the time against 30.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 2,795 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 1,884 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 1,708 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.1% | 1,698 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 938 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.4% | 757 |
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 | 1,294 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 1,277 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,197 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 781 |
| 5 | Horn | 750 |
| 6 | Wipers | 698 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.3% | 5,385 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.4% | 4,275 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.1% | 3,248 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.9% | 2,944 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.3% | 2,705 |
| 6 | Tyres | 19.1% | 2,677 |
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 | 41 | 31.7% |
| 30-60k | 595 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,659 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,824 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,991 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 7,937 | 33.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,453 | 30.8% |
| Petrol | 1,599 | 29.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,868 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 2,995 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 2,866 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 2,717 | 30.5% |
| 2025 | 2,606 | 31.2% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Transporter
On a 1995 Transporter, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1995 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
69.4% of the 14,052 1995 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Volkswagen Transporter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by brakes (13.4%).
Does the 1995 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.7% in the 0-30k band to 33.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,052 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.