1988 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

64.1%

Latest Pass Rate

15,840

Total Tests (All Years)

133,536 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 1988 Volkswagen Transporter as it ages.

21 yrs50.0%

→ ↑2.0%

22 yrs52.0%

→ ↑1.4%

23 yrs53.4%

→ ↓1.2%

24 yrs52.2%

→ ↓0.6%

25 yrs51.6%

→ ↑1.7%

26 yrs53.3%

→ ↑3.9%

27 yrs57.2%

→ ↓1.9%

28 yrs55.3%

→ ↑1.5%

29 yrs56.8%

→ ↓0.5%

30 yrs56.3%

→ ↑2.2%

31 yrs58.5%

→ ↑1.6%

32 yrs60.1%

→ ↓1.4%

33 yrs58.7%

→ ↑2.9%

34 yrs61.6%

→ ↑2.2%

35 yrs63.8%

→ ↑0.3%

36 yrs64.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	50.0%	1,100
22 yrs	52.0%	1,038
23 yrs	53.4%	1,061
24 yrs	52.2%	1,025
25 yrs	51.6%	1,013
26 yrs	53.3%	980
27 yrs	57.2%	970
28 yrs	55.3%	960
29 yrs	56.8%	1,157
30 yrs	56.3%	797
31 yrs	58.5%	857
32 yrs	60.1%	706
33 yrs	58.7%	850
34 yrs	61.6%	828
35 yrs	63.8%	904
36 yrs	64.1%	1,594

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Volkswagen Transporter pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	64.1%	1,594
2023 (35 yrs)	63.8%	904
2022 (34 yrs)	61.6%	828
2021 (33 yrs)	58.7%	850
2020 (32 yrs)	60.1%	706
2019 (31 yrs)	58.5%	857
2018 (30 yrs)	56.3%	797
2017 (29 yrs)	56.8%	1,157
2016 (28 yrs)	55.3%	960
2015 (27 yrs)	57.2%	970
2014 (26 yrs)	53.3%	980
2013 (25 yrs)	51.6%	1,013
2012 (24 yrs)	52.2%	1,025
2011 (23 yrs)	53.4%	1,061
2010 (22 yrs)	52%	1,038
2009 (21 yrs)	50%	1,100

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 1,100Avg Mileage 129,737Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.5%

2010High Fail Rate

52.0%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 1,038Avg Mileage 130,934Top Failure Brakes — 27.8%

2011High Fail Rate

53.4%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 1,061Avg Mileage 134,702Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.6%

2012High Fail Rate

52.2%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 1,025Avg Mileage 135,504Top Failure Suspension — 28.3%

2013High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 1,013Avg Mileage 135,652Top Failure Brakes — 66.2%

2014High Fail Rate

53.3%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 980Avg Mileage 137,992Top Failure Brakes — 71.2%

2015High Fail Rate

57.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 970Avg Mileage 139,416Top Failure Suspension — 60.1%

2016High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 960Avg Mileage 140,467Top Failure Suspension — 62.5%

2017High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 1,157Avg Mileage 139,462Top Failure Suspension — 57.6%

2018High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 797Avg Mileage 141,788Top Failure Brakes — 56.6%

2019High Fail Rate

58.5%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 857Avg Mileage 140,061Top Failure Brakes — 57.8%

2020High Fail Rate

60.1%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 706Avg Mileage 142,108Top Failure Suspension — 55.2%

2021High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 850Avg Mileage 131,975Top Failure Suspension — 70.0%

2022High Fail Rate

61.6%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 828Avg Mileage 134,232Top Failure Suspension — 65.7%

2023High Fail Rate

63.8%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 904Avg Mileage 135,240Top Failure Suspension — 56.1%

2024High Fail Rate

64.1%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 1,594Avg Mileage 133,536Top Failure Suspension — 42.2%

MOT results for 1988 Volkswagen Transporter by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	50.0%	1,100	129,737	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.5%
2010	22	52.0%	1,038	130,934	Brakes — 27.8%
2011	23	53.4%	1,061	134,702	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.6%
2012	24	52.2%	1,025	135,504	Suspension — 28.3%
2013	25	51.6%	1,013	135,652	Brakes — 66.2%
2014	26	53.3%	980	137,992	Brakes — 71.2%
2015	27	57.2%	970	139,416	Suspension — 60.1%
2016	28	55.3%	960	140,467	Suspension — 62.5%
2017	29	56.8%	1,157	139,462	Suspension — 57.6%
2018	30	56.3%	797	141,788	Brakes — 56.6%
2019	31	58.5%	857	140,061	Brakes — 57.8%
2020	32	60.1%	706	142,108	Suspension — 55.2%
2021	33	58.7%	850	131,975	Suspension — 70.0%
2022	34	61.6%	828	134,232	Suspension — 65.7%
2023	35	63.8%	904	135,240	Suspension — 56.1%
2024	36	64.1%	1,594	133,536	Suspension — 42.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Volkswagen Transporter, with age trends.

Suspension

50.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

48.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

37.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

28.9%

↑ 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	23.3% (21 yrs)	42.2% (36 yrs)	+18.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	26.2% (21 yrs)	38.8% (36 yrs)	+12.6%	🔴 ↑

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 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 15,840 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.