1971 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

70.0%

Latest Pass Rate

4,419

Total Tests (All Years)

44,291 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 1971 Volkswagen Transporter as it ages.

38 yrs53.6%

→ ↓3.6%

39 yrs50.0%

→ ↓0.0%

40 yrs50.0%

→ ↓0.8%

41 yrs49.2%

→ ↓2.2%

42 yrs47.0%

→ ↑4.8%

43 yrs51.8%

→ ↑1.8%

44 yrs53.6%

→ ↑2.2%

45 yrs55.8%

→ ↑0.5%

46 yrs56.3%

→ ↑7.2%

47 yrs63.5%

→ ↑1.2%

48 yrs64.7%

→ ↓6.4%

49 yrs58.3%

→ ↑21.1%

51 yrs79.4%

→ ↓9.4%

53 yrs70.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	53.6%	407
39 yrs	50.0%	396
40 yrs	50.0%	448
41 yrs	49.2%	421
42 yrs	47.0%	466
43 yrs	51.8%	444
44 yrs	53.6%	442
45 yrs	55.8%	446
46 yrs	56.3%	474
47 yrs	63.5%	167
48 yrs	64.7%	136
49 yrs	58.3%	108
51 yrs	79.4%	34
53 yrs	70.0%	30

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 Volkswagen Transporter pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (53 yrs)	70%	30
2022 (51 yrs)	79.4%	34
2020 (49 yrs)	58.3%	108
2019 (48 yrs)	64.7%	136
2018 (47 yrs)	63.5%	167
2017 (46 yrs)	56.3%	474
2016 (45 yrs)	55.8%	446
2015 (44 yrs)	53.6%	442
2014 (43 yrs)	51.8%	444
2013 (42 yrs)	47%	466
2012 (41 yrs)	49.2%	421
2011 (40 yrs)	50%	448
2010 (39 yrs)	50%	396
2009 (38 yrs)	53.6%	407

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 407Avg Mileage 59,229Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.7%

2010High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 396Avg Mileage 57,197Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.8%

2011High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 448Avg Mileage 58,162Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%

2012High Fail Rate

49.2%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 421Avg Mileage 61,600Top Failure Suspension — 32.3%

2013High Fail Rate

47.0%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 466Avg Mileage 58,744Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 95.1%

2014High Fail Rate

51.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 444Avg Mileage 55,706Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 76.8%

2015High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 442Avg Mileage 61,382Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 83.3%

2016High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 446Avg Mileage 56,276Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.5%

2017High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 474Avg Mileage 54,402Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.0%

2018High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 167Avg Mileage 51,406Top Failure Suspension — 34.7%

2019High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 136Avg Mileage 63,051Top Failure Brakes — 44.9%

2020High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 108Avg Mileage 66,366Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.5%

2022

79.4%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 34Avg Mileage 47,951Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 44.1%

2024

70.0%

Age (yrs) 53Tests 30Avg Mileage 44,291Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.3%

MOT results for 1971 Volkswagen Transporter by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	53.6%	407	59,229	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.7%
2010	39	50.0%	396	57,197	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.8%
2011	40	50.0%	448	58,162	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%
2012	41	49.2%	421	61,600	Suspension — 32.3%
2013	42	47.0%	466	58,744	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 95.1%
2014	43	51.8%	444	55,706	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 76.8%
2015	44	53.6%	442	61,382	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 83.3%
2016	45	55.8%	446	56,276	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.5%
2017	46	56.3%	474	54,402	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.0%
2018	47	63.5%	167	51,406	Suspension — 34.7%
2019	48	64.7%	136	63,051	Brakes — 44.9%
2020	49	58.3%	108	66,366	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.5%
2022	51	79.4%	34	47,951	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 44.1%
2024	53	70.0%	30	44,291	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 Volkswagen Transporter, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

54.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

48.1%

— Consistent

Brakes

41.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

41.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

38.8%

↑ Increases 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	19.7% (38 yrs)	26.7% (53 yrs)	+7.0%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	26.3% (38 yrs)	20.0% (53 yrs)	-6.3%	🟢 ↓
Steering	15.0% (38 yrs)	13.3% (53 yrs)	-1.7%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Transporter cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 4,419 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.