2019 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 61,818 MOT tests analysed for the 2019 Volkswagen Transporter, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension. Its pass rate of 87.8% was above the average for vans of a similar age (84.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 21.3% in the 150k+ group versus 7.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 3,102 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 2,572 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.2% | 1,998 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 1,804 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 1,336 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.0% | 1,211 |
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 | 2,101 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,711 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,151 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,107 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 916 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 705 |
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 | 17.1% | 10,593 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 6,549 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.8% | 4,812 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.0% | 3,716 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 3,274 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 2,090 |
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 | 17,251 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 26,018 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 11,688 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,471 | 17.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,532 | 19.3% |
| 150k+ | 855 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 59,300 | 12.3% |
| Petrol | 2,518 | 10.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 815 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 14,694 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 15,057 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 15,570 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 15,682 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transporter
Before buying a 2019 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 (3.2% 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 2019 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 61,818 2019 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Transporter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.2%).
Does the 2019 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 61,818 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.