1999 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 27,817 MOT tests, the 1999 Volkswagen Transporter recorded a 69.6% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail at 29.6%, so the 1999 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 18.5% of all tests — 5.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 2,637 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 26.8% in the 0-30k band and 32.8% in the 150k+ band, a 6.0-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.8pp more often than petrol ones (30.6% vs 26.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 43.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.7% in 2021 to 30.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 5,150 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 3,610 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 3,276 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.7% | 3,253 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.8% | 1,882 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 1,716 |
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 | 2,637 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,396 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,598 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,411 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,340 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,324 |
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 | 43.0% | 11,976 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.8% | 8,569 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.2% | 5,892 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.0% | 5,844 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.3% | 5,642 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 20.0% | 5,565 |
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 | 190 | 26.8% |
| 30-60k | 838 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,797 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,525 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 3,787 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 18,611 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 26,629 | 30.6% |
| Petrol | 1,181 | 26.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,928 | 31.7% |
| 2022 | 5,825 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | 5,658 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 5,299 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 5,107 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Transporter
On a 1999 Transporter, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.0% 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 (11.8% 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 1999 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
69.6% of the 27,817 1999 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Volkswagen Transporter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by brakes (13.0%).
Does the 1999 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.8% in the 0-30k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,817 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.