2017 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
115,443 MOT tests on the 2017 Volkswagen Transporter are in this dataset, and 84.8% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 17.9% of the time, so this is 2.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.7%) and lighting & signalling (4.7%) 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 malfunction indicator lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 4,682 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.7% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.3pp more often than petrol ones (15.2% vs 11.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.7% | 6,621 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 5,404 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 4,905 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 4,122 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.9% | 3,332 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 2,512 |
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 | 4,682 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,744 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,664 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,397 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,950 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,821 |
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 | 18.5% | 21,392 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 16,405 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 11,261 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 7,218 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 6,394 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 4,457 |
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 | 14,102 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 43,793 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 31,670 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 15,383 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 6,402 | 18.7% |
| 150k+ | 4,080 | 19.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 114,895 | 15.2% |
| Petrol | 547 | 11.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,993 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 22,586 | 14.1% |
| 2023 | 23,027 | 15.5% |
| 2024 | 23,698 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 24,139 | 17.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Transporter
On a 2017 Transporter, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (5.7% 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 (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.3% 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 2017 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 115,443 2017 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volkswagen Transporter?
Suspension, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.7%).
Does the 2017 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 19.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 115,443 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.