2018 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 110,666 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Volkswagen Transporter, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension. Its pass rate of 86.6% was above the average for vans of a similar age (83.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 18.4% in the 150k+ group versus 7.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 5,502 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 4,658 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 4,653 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 3,498 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.2% | 2,396 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 2,302 |
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 | 3,587 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 3,321 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,112 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,204 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,830 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1,222 |
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 | 17.6% | 19,486 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 13,187 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.1% | 7,893 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.1% | 6,742 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 6,028 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 3,402 |
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 | 23,293 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 45,084 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 24,790 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 10,822 | 17.6% |
| 120-150k | 4,273 | 18.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,397 | 18.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 107,736 | 13.4% |
| Petrol | 2,923 | 10.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,825 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 21,497 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 22,058 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 23,016 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 23,270 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Transporter
Before buying a 2018 Volkswagen Transporter, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 5.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (5.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Suspension (4.2% 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.
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 2018 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 110,666 2018 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volkswagen Transporter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.2%).
Does the 2018 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 18.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 110,666 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.