2000 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
31,702 MOT tests on the 2000 Volkswagen Transporter are in this dataset, and 69.1% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 29.6% of the time, so this is 1.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.1% of all tests — 5.3 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 3,459 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.4% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.4pp more often than petrol ones (30.9% vs 28.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 43.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.0% in 2021 to 30.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 6,038 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 4,352 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.7% | 4,011 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 3,688 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.4% | 2,339 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 2,011 |
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 | 3,459 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,775 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,902 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,559 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,529 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 1,412 |
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 | 43.5% | 13,798 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.3% | 10,225 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.5% | 7,142 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.1% | 6,684 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.0% | 6,665 |
| 6 | Other defects | 19.9% | 6,298 |
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 | 142 | 26.1% |
| 30-60k | 889 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,001 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,149 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 4,765 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 20,707 | 33.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 31,076 | 30.9% |
| Petrol | 611 | 28.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,715 | 32.0% |
| 2022 | 6,720 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 6,439 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 6,077 | 30.5% |
| 2025 | 5,751 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Transporter
On a 2000 Transporter, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.7% 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.
- Suspension (12.7% 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.
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 2000 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
69.1% of the 31,702 2000 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Volkswagen Transporter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by brakes (13.7%).
Does the 2000 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,702 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.