2016 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 116,426 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Volkswagen Transporter, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 84.3% was above the average for vans of a similar age (80.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 19.5% in the 150k+ group versus 8.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.7% | 7,763 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 5,626 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 5,233 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 4,239 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 3,139 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 2,576 |
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 | 4,885 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,374 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,888 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,803 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 2,121 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,977 |
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 | 19.2% | 22,401 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.9% | 18,485 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 15,007 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.4% | 7,467 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 6,844 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 5,163 |
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 | 7,959 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 35,694 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 34,978 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 21,073 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 9,672 | 18.8% |
| 150k+ | 7,035 | 19.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 116,176 | 15.7% |
| Petrol | 245 | 26.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,710 | 13.5% |
| 2022 | 22,722 | 14.1% |
| 2023 | 23,274 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 23,642 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 24,078 | 18.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Transporter
Before buying a 2016 Volkswagen Transporter, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 6.7% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (6.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2016 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
84.3% of the 116,426 2016 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Transporter?
Suspension, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.8%).
Does the 2016 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 19.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 116,426 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.