1997 Volkswagen Lt 35 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

62.5%

Latest Pass Rate

3,486

Total Tests (All Years)

154,643 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Volkswagen Lt 35 as it ages.

12 yrs42.4%

→ ↑1.6%

13 yrs44.0%

→ ↓4.0%

14 yrs40.0%

→ ↓4.2%

15 yrs35.8%

→ ↑3.0%

16 yrs38.8%

→ ↑0.2%

17 yrs39.0%

→ ↑6.2%

18 yrs45.2%

→ ↓0.2%

19 yrs45.0%

→ ↑13.9%

20 yrs58.9%

→ ↓10.8%

21 yrs48.1%

→ ↑14.4%

22 yrs62.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	42.4%	750
13 yrs	44.0%	636
14 yrs	40.0%	525
15 yrs	35.8%	371
16 yrs	38.8%	312
17 yrs	39.0%	267
18 yrs	45.2%	230
19 yrs	45.0%	211
20 yrs	58.9%	90
21 yrs	48.1%	54
22 yrs	62.5%	40

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Volkswagen Lt 35 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (22 yrs)	62.5%	40
2018 (21 yrs)	48.1%	54
2017 (20 yrs)	58.9%	90
2016 (19 yrs)	45%	211
2015 (18 yrs)	45.2%	230
2014 (17 yrs)	39%	267
2013 (16 yrs)	38.8%	312
2012 (15 yrs)	35.8%	371
2011 (14 yrs)	40%	525
2010 (13 yrs)	44%	636
2009 (12 yrs)	42.4%	750

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

42.4%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 750Avg Mileage 156,013Top Failure Brakes — 44.0%

2010High Fail Rate

44.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 636Avg Mileage 158,845Top Failure Brakes — 42.8%

2011High Fail Rate

40.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 525Avg Mileage 158,942Top Failure Brakes — 49.7%

2012High Fail Rate

35.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 371Avg Mileage 156,072Top Failure Brakes — 50.7%

2013High Fail Rate

38.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 312Avg Mileage 159,107Top Failure Brakes — 144.9%

2014High Fail Rate

39.0%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 267Avg Mileage 160,287Top Failure Brakes — 143.4%

2015High Fail Rate

45.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 230Avg Mileage 152,736Top Failure Brakes — 130.9%

2016High Fail Rate

45.0%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 211Avg Mileage 153,078Top Failure Brakes — 120.4%

2017High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 90Avg Mileage 156,762Top Failure Brakes — 111.1%

2018High Fail Rate

48.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 54Avg Mileage 144,171Top Failure Brakes — 120.4%

2019High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 40Avg Mileage 154,643Top Failure Suspension — 82.5%

MOT results for 1997 Volkswagen Lt 35 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	42.4%	750	156,013	Brakes — 44.0%
2010	13	44.0%	636	158,845	Brakes — 42.8%
2011	14	40.0%	525	158,942	Brakes — 49.7%
2012	15	35.8%	371	156,072	Brakes — 50.7%
2013	16	38.8%	312	159,107	Brakes — 144.9%
2014	17	39.0%	267	160,287	Brakes — 143.4%
2015	18	45.2%	230	152,736	Brakes — 130.9%
2016	19	45.0%	211	153,078	Brakes — 120.4%
2017	20	58.9%	90	156,762	Brakes — 111.1%
2018	21	48.1%	54	144,171	Brakes — 120.4%
2019	22	62.5%	40	154,643	Suspension — 82.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Volkswagen Lt 35, with age trends.

Brakes

91.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

63.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

58.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

48.8%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

26.3%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	28.0% (12 yrs)	82.5% (22 yrs)	+54.5%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	44.0% (12 yrs)	50.0% (22 yrs)	+6.0%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volkswagen Lt 35 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Lt 35 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 3,486 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.