2020 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
4,864 MOT tests on the 2020 Volkswagen Transporter are in this dataset, and 88.1% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 14.1% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 155 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.3% versus 8.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.6% in 2021 to 12.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 206 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 190 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.7% | 133 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.4% | 118 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 79 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 77 |
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 | 155 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 89 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 82 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 68 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 56 |
| 6 | Washers | 45 |
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 | 15.2% | 737 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 494 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.2% | 351 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.2% | 205 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 198 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 105 |
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 | 1,827 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,850 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 692 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 251 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 107 | 17.8% |
| 150k+ | 136 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,820 | 11.9% |
| Petrol | 44 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 199 | 22.6% |
| 2022 | 151 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 1,429 | 10.5% |
| 2024 | 1,522 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 1,563 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Transporter
On a 2020 Transporter, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.7% 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.
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 2020 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 4,864 2020 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Transporter?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Does the 2020 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,864 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.