2012 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
76,789 MOT tests on the 2012 Volkswagen Transporter are in this dataset, and 79.7% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 5.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.1%) and lighting & signalling (8.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and washers — coil spring alone was recorded 2,955 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.6% versus 11.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 23.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.1% | 6,983 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 6,278 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.3% | 4,041 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 3,877 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.7% | 3,592 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 1,633 |
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 | 2,955 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,702 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,642 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 2,361 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,039 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,839 |
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 | 23.8% | 18,295 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.1% | 17,004 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.9% | 16,077 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 9,553 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.9% | 6,049 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.7% | 5,889 |
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 | 915 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 6,632 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 16,540 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 20,132 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 15,371 | 22.5% |
| 150k+ | 17,179 | 23.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 76,457 | 20.3% |
| Petrol | 324 | 20.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,173 | 18.7% |
| 2022 | 15,102 | 19.1% |
| 2023 | 15,351 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 15,505 | 21.2% |
| 2025 | 15,658 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Transporter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.1% 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 (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.3% 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 2012 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 76,789 2012 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volkswagen Transporter?
Suspension, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.2%).
Does the 2012 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 0-30k band to 23.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,789 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.