2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Volkswagen Transporter MOT pass rate and common faults

12,035 MOT tests in 2024. 68.4% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

106Above average
Passed first time68.4%
Failed or needed repairs31.6%
Typical mileage at test116,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 12,035 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.9%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
    443 marked dangerous
  3. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.0%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.9%
    309 marked dangerous
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.9%
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
  7. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.8%
  8. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
  9. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.7%
  10. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension15.7%
  2. Lights & electrics12.8%
  3. Brakes9.9%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.9%
  5. Tyres6.7%
  6. Body & chassis3.4%
  7. Steering2.6%
  8. Emissions & leaks2.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.5%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.5%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.9%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.4%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened6.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2011 TransporterAll Transporter years2013 Transporter →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Volkswagen Transporter?

In 2024, 68.4% of 2012 Volkswagen Transporter cars passed their MOT first time, across 12,035 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Volkswagen Transporter?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; track rod end: ball joint has excessive play. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 Volkswagen Transporter reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 106, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).