2015 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Volkswagen Transporter passed 82.5% of its 107,620 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (21.4% fail rate), the 2015 Transporter comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.5%) and lighting & signalling (6.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,689 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.1% in the 0-30k band and 22.6% in the 150k+ band, a 13.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.5% | 6,982 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 6,751 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.9% | 5,231 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 5,187 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 3,689 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.0% | 2,187 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3,689 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,533 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,775 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,647 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 2,400 |
| 6 | Anti-lock braking system | 2,260 |
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 | 19.7% | 21,150 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.4% | 18,776 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.2% | 15,237 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 9,409 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.9% | 7,421 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 6,545 |
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 | 5,026 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 25,884 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 32,914 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 22,999 | 19.9% |
| 120-150k | 11,646 | 20.9% |
| 150k+ | 9,141 | 22.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 107,370 | 17.5% |
| Petrol | 250 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,989 | 14.9% |
| 2022 | 21,128 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 21,475 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 21,892 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 22,136 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Transporter
On a 2015 Transporter, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (6.5% 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 (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% 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 2015 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 107,620 2015 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volkswagen Transporter?
Suspension, recorded in 6.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.3%).
Does the 2015 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 22.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 107,620 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.