2022 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2022 Volkswagen Transporter passed 90.0% of its 481 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.7 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 12.7%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.0%) and lighting & signalling (2.9%) 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 18 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2022 Transporter fails 9.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.5% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 11.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.0% | 19 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 14 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.1% | 10 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 10 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 5 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.0% | 5 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 8 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 5 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 5 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 4 |
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 | 11.2% | 54 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 50 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.0% | 19 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.3% | 16 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 10 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.1% | 10 |
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 | 232 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 172 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 56 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 61 | 3.3% |
| 2025 | 398 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2022 Transporter
On a 2022 Transporter, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.0% 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 (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.1% 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 2022 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 481 2022 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Volkswagen Transporter?
Tyres, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.9%).
Does the 2022 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 481 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.