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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2000 Volkswagen Transporter MOT fail rate and common faults

How Volkswagen Transporter cars first used in 2000 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 19,146 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 25 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 25 (n=4,480)43.7%
All cars at 25 years (n=313,355)36.3%
Difference+7.4 pts
MOT tests of 2000 cars, 2022 to 202519,146

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 25 years old, Volkswagen Transporter cars first used in 2000 failed 43.7% of MOTs (4,480 tests), 7.4 points above the 36.3% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 22 to 25 years old, the fail rate moved from 46.4% to 43.7%.
  • Volkswagen Transporter cars first used a year earlier, in 1999, failed 43.4% at the same age of 25 years (4,133 tests, in 2024).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Volkswagen Transporter at 25 years, is component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, at 8.5 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 4.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

Volkswagen Transporter cars first used in 2000: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202222 years46.4%5,08941.0%+5.4 pts
202323 years45.5%4,92439.6%+5.9 pts
202424 years44.7%4,65337.8%+6.9 pts
202525 years43.7%4,48036.3%+7.4 pts

Most common faults at 25 years

These figures cover all Volkswagen Transporter MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=16,029). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength8.54.2
Driveshaft CV boot split5.02.2
Horn: not working Wear4.71.2
Headlamp aim: too low Wear4.51.8
Side/position light not working Wear4.33.4
Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.91.1
Wipers not clearing screen Wear3.73.1
Rear fog lamp: not working Wear3.41.6
Handbrake too weak3.22.3
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.21.9

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=16,029). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material22.414.1
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive19.614.9
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened14.48.6
Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)13.23.3
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear11.810.1
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive8.44.2
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear7.79.1
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear7.33.7
Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated7.03.1
Integral vehicle structure condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced6.53.2

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=16,029). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 25 years

These figures cover all Volkswagen Transporter MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=16,029). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Diesel95.6%44.5%15,29039.3%175,025 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 25 years

These figures cover all Volkswagen Transporter MOTs at 25 years: cars first used 1997 to 2000, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=16,029). At 25 years, Volkswagen Transporter cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (48.4%, n=10,062) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (31.0%, n=1,180). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
60,000 to 90,000 miles31.0%1,18035.4%
90,000 to 120,000 miles37.8%1,58738.4%
120,000 to 150,000 miles44.3%2,27740.2%
Over 150,000 miles48.4%10,06242.3%

Car tax rules for a 2000 car

  • Cars first registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed by engine size: one annual rate for engines up to 1,549cc and a higher rate above that.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2000 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Volkswagen Transporter

More on the Volkswagen Transporter

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2000 Volkswagen Transporter cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.