2011 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
75,884 MOT tests on the 2011 Volkswagen Transporter are in this dataset, and 78.5% of them passed. That is 5.2 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 26.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.9%) and lighting & signalling (8.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, pins and bushes and washers — coil spring alone was recorded 2,751 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.8% in the 0-30k band and 24.6% in the 150k+ band, a 12.9-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.9% | 7,509 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 6,272 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.9% | 4,491 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 4,027 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.6% | 3,459 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 1,979 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 2,751 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 2,727 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,713 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,706 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,031 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 1,896 |
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 | 26.1% | 19,815 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.4% | 17,001 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.6% | 15,656 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 9,245 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.2% | 6,206 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.7% | 5,872 |
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 | 715 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 5,231 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 13,232 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 18,411 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 16,146 | 23.2% |
| 150k+ | 22,117 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 75,511 | 21.5% |
| Petrol | 373 | 23.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,934 | 20.1% |
| 2022 | 15,028 | 20.4% |
| 2023 | 15,236 | 21.8% |
| 2024 | 15,356 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 15,330 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Transporter
On a 2011 Transporter, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.9% 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 2011 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
78.5% of the 75,884 2011 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volkswagen Transporter?
Suspension, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.3%).
Does the 2011 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 75,884 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.