2014 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 96,677 MOT tests, the 2014 Volkswagen Transporter recorded an 81.2% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (23.0% fail rate), the 2014 Transporter comes out 4.2pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.6%) and lighting & signalling (7.4%) 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 3,788 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.3% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.6% | 7,332 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 7,136 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.6% | 5,430 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.4% | 4,294 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 3,846 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.4% | 2,282 |
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 | 3,788 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,166 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,912 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 2,478 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,394 |
| 6 | Anti-lock braking system | 2,211 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.3% | 19,631 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 18,731 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.2% | 16,597 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 10,907 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.3% | 7,032 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.9% | 6,657 |
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 | 2,704 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 16,771 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 27,937 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 23,752 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 13,352 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 12,154 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 96,543 | 18.8% |
| Petrol | 129 | 20.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,950 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 18,935 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 19,336 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 19,682 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 19,774 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Transporter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.6% 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 (7.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.6% 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 2014 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 96,677 2014 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volkswagen Transporter?
Suspension, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.4%).
Does the 2014 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 96,677 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.