2005 · 19 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2005 Volkswagen Transporter MOT pass rate and common faults

9,781 MOT tests in 2024. 55.0% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

97Below average
Passed first time55.0%
Failed or needed repairs45.0%
Typical mileage at test167,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 9,781 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.0%
  2. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements4.9%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded4.2%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.1%
  5. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps4.0%
  6. Position lamp: not working3.8%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.4%
  8. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn3.4%
  9. Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit2.8%
  10. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side2.8%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics32.1%
  2. Suspension29.0%
  3. Brakes28.1%
  4. Body & chassis10.7%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.3%
  6. Tyres6.9%
  7. Emissions & leaks5.4%
  8. Steering5.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.8%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.6%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine11.8%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.6%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.9%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 Volkswagen Transporter?

In 2024, 55.0% of 2005 Volkswagen Transporter cars passed their MOT first time, across 9,781 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Volkswagen Transporter?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2005 Volkswagen Transporter reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 97, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).