1981 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

63.7%

Latest Pass Rate

4,587

Total Tests (All Years)

67,008 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 1981 Volkswagen Transporter as it ages.

28 yrs39.1%

→ ↑8.3%

29 yrs47.4%

→ ↓3.4%

30 yrs44.0%

→ ↓5.6%

31 yrs38.4%

→ ↑2.6%

32 yrs41.0%

→ ↑2.7%

33 yrs43.7%

→ ↑0.3%

34 yrs44.0%

→ ↑3.6%

35 yrs47.6%

→ ↓1.9%

36 yrs45.7%

→ ↑1.6%

37 yrs47.3%

→ ↑4.2%

38 yrs51.5%

→ ↑5.2%

39 yrs56.7%

→ ↓5.4%

40 yrs51.3%

→ ↓0.0%

41 yrs51.3%

→ ↓3.5%

42 yrs47.8%

→ ↑15.9%

43 yrs63.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	39.1%	402
29 yrs	47.4%	397
30 yrs	44.0%	407
31 yrs	38.4%	385
32 yrs	41.0%	371
33 yrs	43.7%	391
34 yrs	44.0%	368
35 yrs	47.6%	359
36 yrs	45.7%	348
37 yrs	47.3%	264
38 yrs	51.5%	241
39 yrs	56.7%	180
40 yrs	51.3%	189
41 yrs	51.3%	113
42 yrs	47.8%	92
43 yrs	63.7%	80

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Volkswagen Transporter pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (43 yrs)	63.7%	80
2023 (42 yrs)	47.8%	92
2022 (41 yrs)	51.3%	113
2021 (40 yrs)	51.3%	189
2020 (39 yrs)	56.7%	180
2019 (38 yrs)	51.5%	241
2018 (37 yrs)	47.3%	264
2017 (36 yrs)	45.7%	348
2016 (35 yrs)	47.6%	359
2015 (34 yrs)	44%	368
2014 (33 yrs)	43.7%	391
2013 (32 yrs)	41%	371
2012 (31 yrs)	38.4%	385
2011 (30 yrs)	44%	407
2010 (29 yrs)	47.4%	397
2009 (28 yrs)	39.1%	402

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

39.1%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 402Avg Mileage 75,878Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.1%

2010High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 397Avg Mileage 78,321Top Failure Suspension — 34.0%

2011High Fail Rate

44.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 407Avg Mileage 75,332Top Failure Suspension — 36.1%

2012High Fail Rate

38.4%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 385Avg Mileage 75,925Top Failure Suspension — 42.6%

2013High Fail Rate

41.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 371Avg Mileage 78,056Top Failure Suspension — 121.6%

2014High Fail Rate

43.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 391Avg Mileage 75,108Top Failure Suspension — 99.2%

2015High Fail Rate

44.0%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 368Avg Mileage 72,587Top Failure Suspension — 108.2%

2016High Fail Rate

47.6%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 359Avg Mileage 77,833Top Failure Suspension — 92.5%

2017High Fail Rate

45.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 348Avg Mileage 80,696Top Failure Suspension — 98.3%

2018High Fail Rate

47.3%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 264Avg Mileage 71,806Top Failure Suspension — 100.8%

2019High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 241Avg Mileage 73,855Top Failure Suspension — 88.8%

2020High Fail Rate

56.7%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 180Avg Mileage 73,098Top Failure Suspension — 73.3%

2021High Fail Rate

51.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 189Avg Mileage 58,037Top Failure Suspension — 104.2%

2022High Fail Rate

51.3%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 113Avg Mileage 67,929Top Failure Suspension — 80.5%

2023High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 92Avg Mileage 63,275Top Failure Suspension — 75.0%

2024High Fail Rate

63.7%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 80Avg Mileage 67,008Top Failure Suspension — 66.3%

MOT results for 1981 Volkswagen Transporter by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	39.1%	402	75,878	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.1%
2010	29	47.4%	397	78,321	Suspension — 34.0%
2011	30	44.0%	407	75,332	Suspension — 36.1%
2012	31	38.4%	385	75,925	Suspension — 42.6%
2013	32	41.0%	371	78,056	Suspension — 121.6%
2014	33	43.7%	391	75,108	Suspension — 99.2%
2015	34	44.0%	368	72,587	Suspension — 108.2%
2016	35	47.6%	359	77,833	Suspension — 92.5%
2017	36	45.7%	348	80,696	Suspension — 98.3%
2018	37	47.3%	264	71,806	Suspension — 100.8%
2019	38	51.5%	241	73,855	Suspension — 88.8%
2020	39	56.7%	180	73,098	Suspension — 73.3%
2021	40	51.3%	189	58,037	Suspension — 104.2%
2022	41	51.3%	113	67,929	Suspension — 80.5%
2023	42	47.8%	92	63,275	Suspension — 75.0%
2024	43	63.7%	80	67,008	Suspension — 66.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Volkswagen Transporter, with age trends.

Suspension

78.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

56.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

52.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

50.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

39.9%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	34.3% (28 yrs)	66.3% (43 yrs)	+32.0%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	28.4% (28 yrs)	45.0% (43 yrs)	+16.6%	🔴 ↑

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 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 4,587 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.