1985 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

61.7%

Latest Pass Rate

10,548

Total Tests (All Years)

69,922 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 1985 Volkswagen Transporter as it ages.

24 yrs45.9%

→ ↓2.2%

25 yrs43.7%

→ ↑5.1%

26 yrs48.8%

→ ↓3.4%

27 yrs45.4%

→ ↑3.1%

28 yrs48.5%

→ ↑2.0%

29 yrs50.5%

→ ↓2.3%

30 yrs48.2%

→ ↑3.9%

31 yrs52.1%

→ ↓1.9%

32 yrs50.2%

→ ↓2.4%

33 yrs47.8%

→ ↑6.1%

34 yrs53.9%

→ ↑2.4%

35 yrs56.3%

→ ↑1.8%

36 yrs58.1%

→ ↓1.7%

37 yrs56.4%

→ ↑2.9%

38 yrs59.3%

→ ↑2.4%

39 yrs61.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	45.9%	734
25 yrs	43.7%	710
26 yrs	48.8%	705
27 yrs	45.4%	665
28 yrs	48.5%	672
29 yrs	50.5%	656
30 yrs	48.2%	660
31 yrs	52.1%	612
32 yrs	50.2%	803
33 yrs	47.8%	519
34 yrs	53.9%	581
35 yrs	56.3%	462
36 yrs	58.1%	580
37 yrs	56.4%	523
38 yrs	59.3%	595
39 yrs	61.7%	1,071

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Volkswagen Transporter pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	61.7%	1,071
2023 (38 yrs)	59.3%	595
2022 (37 yrs)	56.4%	523
2021 (36 yrs)	58.1%	580
2020 (35 yrs)	56.3%	462
2019 (34 yrs)	53.9%	581
2018 (33 yrs)	47.8%	519
2017 (32 yrs)	50.2%	803
2016 (31 yrs)	52.1%	612
2015 (30 yrs)	48.2%	660
2014 (29 yrs)	50.5%	656
2013 (28 yrs)	48.5%	672
2012 (27 yrs)	45.4%	665
2011 (26 yrs)	48.8%	705
2010 (25 yrs)	43.7%	710
2009 (24 yrs)	45.9%	734

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

45.9%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 734Avg Mileage 71,560Top Failure Brakes — 31.7%

2010High Fail Rate

43.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 710Avg Mileage 69,515Top Failure Brakes — 31.4%

2011High Fail Rate

48.8%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 705Avg Mileage 74,111Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.1%

2012High Fail Rate

45.4%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 665Avg Mileage 75,423Top Failure Suspension — 32.3%

2013High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 672Avg Mileage 73,297Top Failure Suspension — 86.6%

2014High Fail Rate

50.5%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 656Avg Mileage 74,455Top Failure Suspension — 84.0%

2015High Fail Rate

48.2%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 660Avg Mileage 80,113Top Failure Brakes — 77.4%

2016High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 612Avg Mileage 78,205Top Failure Suspension — 79.6%

2017High Fail Rate

50.2%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 803Avg Mileage 74,311Top Failure Suspension — 82.8%

2018High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 519Avg Mileage 76,681Top Failure Suspension — 85.9%

2019High Fail Rate

53.9%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 581Avg Mileage 73,067Top Failure Suspension — 78.7%

2020High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 462Avg Mileage 84,180Top Failure Suspension — 82.0%

2021High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 580Avg Mileage 70,227Top Failure Suspension — 73.4%

2022High Fail Rate

56.4%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 523Avg Mileage 76,028Top Failure Suspension — 75.3%

2023High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 595Avg Mileage 75,260Top Failure Suspension — 73.4%

2024High Fail Rate

61.7%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 1,071Avg Mileage 69,922Top Failure Suspension — 59.5%

MOT results for 1985 Volkswagen Transporter by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	45.9%	734	71,560	Brakes — 31.7%
2010	25	43.7%	710	69,515	Brakes — 31.4%
2011	26	48.8%	705	74,111	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.1%
2012	27	45.4%	665	75,423	Suspension — 32.3%
2013	28	48.5%	672	73,297	Suspension — 86.6%
2014	29	50.5%	656	74,455	Suspension — 84.0%
2015	30	48.2%	660	80,113	Brakes — 77.4%
2016	31	52.1%	612	78,205	Suspension — 79.6%
2017	32	50.2%	803	74,311	Suspension — 82.8%
2018	33	47.8%	519	76,681	Suspension — 85.9%
2019	34	53.9%	581	73,067	Suspension — 78.7%
2020	35	56.3%	462	84,180	Suspension — 82.0%
2021	36	58.1%	580	70,227	Suspension — 73.4%
2022	37	56.4%	523	76,028	Suspension — 75.3%
2023	38	59.3%	595	75,260	Suspension — 73.4%
2024	39	61.7%	1,071	69,922	Suspension — 59.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Volkswagen Transporter, with age trends.

Suspension

65.9%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

53.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

44.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

44.7%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

30.4%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	28.2% (24 yrs)	59.5% (39 yrs)	+31.3%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	31.7% (24 yrs)	42.0% (39 yrs)	+10.3%	🔴 ↑

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 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 10,548 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.