1973 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age

53 years

Current Age

91.5%

Latest Pass Rate

1,738

Total Tests (All Years)

74,491 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for Transporter

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1973 Volkswagen Transporter as it ages.

36 yrs45.1%

→ ↑4.2%

37 yrs49.3%

→ ↑1.7%

38 yrs51.0%

→ ↓4.0%

39 yrs47.0%

→ ↑3.0%

40 yrs50.0%

→ ↓5.1%

41 yrs44.9%

→ ↑13.8%

42 yrs58.7%

→ ↓3.2%

43 yrs55.5%

→ ↑3.9%

44 yrs59.4%

→ ↑1.6%

45 yrs61.0%

→ ↓1.4%

46 yrs59.6%

→ ↑6.3%

47 yrs65.9%

→ ↓3.1%

48 yrs62.8%

→ ↑28.7%

51 yrs91.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	45.1%	144
37 yrs	49.3%	144
38 yrs	51.0%	153
39 yrs	47.0%	149
40 yrs	50.0%	154
41 yrs	44.9%	167
42 yrs	58.7%	184
43 yrs	55.5%	191
44 yrs	59.4%	187
45 yrs	61.0%	77
46 yrs	59.6%	57
47 yrs	65.9%	41
48 yrs	62.8%	43
51 yrs	91.5%	47

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1973 Volkswagen Transporter pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (51 yrs)	91.5%	47
2021 (48 yrs)	62.8%	43
2020 (47 yrs)	65.9%	41
2019 (46 yrs)	59.6%	57
2018 (45 yrs)	61%	77
2017 (44 yrs)	59.4%	187
2016 (43 yrs)	55.5%	191
2015 (42 yrs)	58.7%	184
2014 (41 yrs)	44.9%	167
2013 (40 yrs)	50%	154
2012 (39 yrs)	47%	149
2011 (38 yrs)	51%	153
2010 (37 yrs)	49.3%	144
2009 (36 yrs)	45.1%	144

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

45.1%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 144Avg Mileage 60,025Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.7%

2010High Fail Rate

49.3%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 144Avg Mileage 57,961Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%

2011High Fail Rate

51.0%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 153Avg Mileage 55,440Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%

2012High Fail Rate

47.0%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 149Avg Mileage 55,803Top Failure Suspension — 32.2%

2013High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 154Avg Mileage 60,968Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 85.7%

2014High Fail Rate

44.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 167Avg Mileage 54,169Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 98.8%

2015High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 184Avg Mileage 60,377Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 79.3%

2016High Fail Rate

55.5%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 191Avg Mileage 55,214Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.5%

2017High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 187Avg Mileage 57,315Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.5%

2018High Fail Rate

61.0%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 77Avg Mileage 56,016Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.0%

2019High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 57Avg Mileage 48,400Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 64.9%

2020

65.9%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 41Avg Mileage 53,334Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.1%

2021High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 43Avg Mileage 65,311Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 79.1%

2024

91.5%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 47Avg Mileage 74,491Top Failure Steering — 10.6%

MOT results for 1973 Volkswagen Transporter by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	36	45.1%	144	60,025	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.7%
2010	37	49.3%	144	57,961	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%
2011	38	51.0%	153	55,440	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%
2012	39	47.0%	149	55,803	Suspension — 32.2%
2013	40	50.0%	154	60,968	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 85.7%
2014	41	44.9%	167	54,169	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 98.8%
2015	42	58.7%	184	60,377	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 79.3%
2016	43	55.5%	191	55,214	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.5%
2017	44	59.4%	187	57,315	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.5%
2018	45	61.0%	77	56,016	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.0%
2019	46	59.6%	57	48,400	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 64.9%
2020	47	65.9%	41	53,334	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.1%
2021	48	62.8%	43	65,311	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 79.1%
2024	51	91.5%	47	74,491	Steering — 10.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1973 Volkswagen Transporter, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

57.6%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

49.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

48.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

42.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

39.9%

↓ 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
Brakes	31.9% (36 yrs)	6.4% (51 yrs)	-25.5%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	24.3% (36 yrs)	10.6% (51 yrs)	-13.7%	🟢 ↓

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 1973 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,738 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.