1979 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age

47 years

Current Age

56.1%

Latest Pass Rate

2,547

Total Tests (All Years)

42,590 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 1979 Volkswagen Transporter as it ages.

30 yrs55.4%

→ ↓3.9%

31 yrs51.5%

→ ↓6.5%

32 yrs45.0%

→ ↑7.0%

33 yrs52.0%

→ ↓7.5%

34 yrs44.5%

→ ↑6.9%

35 yrs51.4%

→ ↑2.4%

36 yrs53.8%

→ ↑4.3%

37 yrs58.1%

→ ↑2.3%

38 yrs60.4%

→ ↓2.3%

39 yrs58.1%

→ ↑4.1%

40 yrs62.2%

→ ↑6.0%

41 yrs68.2%

→ ↑2.0%

42 yrs70.2%

→ ↓6.3%

43 yrs63.9%

→ ↑7.2%

44 yrs71.1%

→ ↓15.0%

45 yrs56.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
30 yrs	55.4%	213
31 yrs	51.5%	198
32 yrs	45.0%	222
33 yrs	52.0%	227
34 yrs	44.5%	227
35 yrs	51.4%	212
36 yrs	53.8%	251
37 yrs	58.1%	227
38 yrs	60.4%	225
39 yrs	58.1%	155
40 yrs	62.2%	143
41 yrs	68.2%	85
42 yrs	70.2%	47
43 yrs	63.9%	36
44 yrs	71.1%	38
45 yrs	56.1%	41

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1979 Volkswagen Transporter pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (45 yrs)	56.1%	41
2023 (44 yrs)	71.1%	38
2022 (43 yrs)	63.9%	36
2021 (42 yrs)	70.2%	47
2020 (41 yrs)	68.2%	85
2019 (40 yrs)	62.2%	143
2018 (39 yrs)	58.1%	155
2017 (38 yrs)	60.4%	225
2016 (37 yrs)	58.1%	227
2015 (36 yrs)	53.8%	251
2014 (35 yrs)	51.4%	212
2013 (34 yrs)	44.5%	227
2012 (33 yrs)	52%	227
2011 (32 yrs)	45%	222
2010 (31 yrs)	51.5%	198
2009 (30 yrs)	55.4%	213

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 213Avg Mileage 62,811Top Failure Brakes — 23.5%

2010High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 198Avg Mileage 62,854Top Failure Brakes — 29.3%

2011High Fail Rate

45.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 222Avg Mileage 70,433Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%

2012High Fail Rate

52.0%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 227Avg Mileage 64,006Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.3%

2013High Fail Rate

44.5%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 227Avg Mileage 64,129Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 81.1%

2014High Fail Rate

51.4%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 212Avg Mileage 63,438Top Failure Brakes — 68.9%

2015High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 251Avg Mileage 70,838Top Failure Brakes — 65.7%

2016High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 227Avg Mileage 63,471Top Failure Brakes — 59.5%

2017High Fail Rate

60.4%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 225Avg Mileage 63,286Top Failure Suspension — 52.4%

2018High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 155Avg Mileage 61,378Top Failure Suspension — 52.3%

2019High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 143Avg Mileage 55,188Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 51.0%

2020

68.2%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 85Avg Mileage 61,962Top Failure Suspension — 29.4%

2021

70.2%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 47Avg Mileage 50,067Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 36.2%

2022High Fail Rate

63.9%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 36Avg Mileage 46,396Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 55.6%

2023

71.1%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 38Avg Mileage 47,552Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 44.7%

2024High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 41Avg Mileage 42,590Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 58.5%

MOT results for 1979 Volkswagen Transporter by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	30	55.4%	213	62,811	Brakes — 23.5%
2010	31	51.5%	198	62,854	Brakes — 29.3%
2011	32	45.0%	222	70,433	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%
2012	33	52.0%	227	64,006	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.3%
2013	34	44.5%	227	64,129	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 81.1%
2014	35	51.4%	212	63,438	Brakes — 68.9%
2015	36	53.8%	251	70,838	Brakes — 65.7%
2016	37	58.1%	227	63,471	Brakes — 59.5%
2017	38	60.4%	225	63,286	Suspension — 52.4%
2018	39	58.1%	155	61,378	Suspension — 52.3%
2019	40	62.2%	143	55,188	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 51.0%
2020	41	68.2%	85	61,962	Suspension — 29.4%
2021	42	70.2%	47	50,067	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 36.2%
2022	43	63.9%	36	46,396	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 55.6%
2023	44	71.1%	38	47,552	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 44.7%
2024	45	56.1%	41	42,590	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 58.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1979 Volkswagen Transporter, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

43.9%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

42.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

40.2%

— Consistent

Suspension

39.3%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

32.8%

↑ 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	21.6% (30 yrs)	24.4% (45 yrs)	+2.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	23.5% (30 yrs)	24.4% (45 yrs)	+0.9%	⚪ —

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 1979 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,547 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.