2001 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 43,660 MOT tests analysed for the 2001 Volkswagen Transporter, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 69.5% was in line with the average for vans of a similar age (70.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.0% in the 150k+ group versus 22.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 8,072 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 5,629 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.9% | 5,212 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 4,736 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.0% | 3,499 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 2,756 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 4,009 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,440 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 2,591 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 2,107 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2,096 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 1,994 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 43.7% | 19,083 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.4% | 13,292 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 21.6% | 9,452 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.1% | 9,232 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.9% | 9,106 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 8,339 |
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 | 217 | 22.6% |
| 30-60k | 996 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,451 | 20.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,083 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 6,893 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 28,987 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 42,911 | 30.5% |
| Petrol | 749 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,213 | 30.7% |
| 2022 | 9,069 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 8,858 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 8,494 | 30.5% |
| 2025 | 8,026 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Transporter
Before buying a 2001 Volkswagen Transporter, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (11.9% 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 2001 Volkswagen Transporters pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 43,660 2001 Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Volkswagen Transporter?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by brakes (12.9%).
Does the 2001 Transporter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.6% in the 0-30k band to 33.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,660 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.