1973 Volkswagen Transporter MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for Transporter models manufactured in 1973, based on 1,785 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
This page shows all Transporter cars tested in 1973. Want to see how cars built in 1973 hold up over time?
View 1973 Volkswagen Transporter vintage page → (91.5% current pass rate)1973 Volkswagen Transporter MOT Analysis
The 1973 Volkswagen Transporter has an MOT pass rate of 54.2% based on 1,785 tests — below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 57,566 miles on the odometer. With a 45.8% failure rate, the 1973 Transporter is rated as "Poor" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1973 Volkswagen Transporter is Steering, responsible for 0.3% of failures. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs range from £150–600. Suspension is the second most common issue at 0.3%. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment follows at 0.2%.
Top failures specific to 1973 models only. The overall Transporter page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering | 0.3% | 5 |
| 2 | Suspension | 0.3% | 5 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 0.2% | 4 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.2% | 3 |
| 5 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.1% | 1 |
| 6 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 57,566 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 0.05 | 0.3% | 5 |
| Suspension | 0.05 | 0.3% | 5 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.04 | 0.2% | 4 |
| Brakes | 0.03 | 0.2% | 3 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.01 | 0.1% | 1 |
| Body & Structure | 0.01 | 0.1% | 1 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 1973 Volkswagen Transporter has an MOT pass rate of 54.2% based on 1,785 tests — below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 57,566 miles on the odometer. With a 45.8% failure rate, the 1973 Transporter is rated as "Poor" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 1973 Volkswagen Transporter, be prepared for above-average maintenance costs. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to steering: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels. At 57,566 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.
Steering — 0.3% of failures
Steering issues account for 0.3% of MOT failures on 1973 Volkswagen Transporter models. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.
Suspension — 0.3% of failures
Suspension issues account for 0.3% of MOT failures on 1973 Volkswagen Transporter models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 0.2% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 0.2% of MOT failures on 1973 Volkswagen Transporter models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.