1997 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

55.8%

Latest Pass Rate

58,522

Total Tests (All Years)

160,668 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 1997 Volkswagen Transporter as it ages.

12 yrs50.0%

→ ↓0.7%

13 yrs49.3%

→ ↓1.7%

14 yrs47.6%

→ ↓0.6%

15 yrs47.0%

→ ↓1.7%

16 yrs45.3%

→ ↑1.0%

17 yrs46.3%

→ ↑1.1%

18 yrs47.4%

→ ↑1.7%

19 yrs49.1%

→ ↑0.3%

20 yrs49.4%

→ ↑1.7%

21 yrs51.1%

→ ↑0.6%

22 yrs51.7%

→ ↑2.3%

23 yrs54.0%

→ ↓1.9%

24 yrs52.1%

→ ↑1.6%

25 yrs53.7%

→ ↑0.6%

26 yrs54.3%

→ ↑1.5%

27 yrs55.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	50.0%	4,221
13 yrs	49.3%	4,015
14 yrs	47.6%	3,914
15 yrs	47.0%	3,716
16 yrs	45.3%	3,610
17 yrs	46.3%	3,558
18 yrs	47.4%	3,492
19 yrs	49.1%	3,425
20 yrs	49.4%	4,085
21 yrs	51.1%	2,834
22 yrs	51.7%	2,848
23 yrs	54.0%	2,647
24 yrs	52.1%	3,421
25 yrs	53.7%	2,864
26 yrs	54.3%	3,185
27 yrs	55.8%	6,687

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Volkswagen Transporter pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	55.8%	6,687
2023 (26 yrs)	54.3%	3,185
2022 (25 yrs)	53.7%	2,864
2021 (24 yrs)	52.1%	3,421
2020 (23 yrs)	54%	2,647
2019 (22 yrs)	51.7%	2,848
2018 (21 yrs)	51.1%	2,834
2017 (20 yrs)	49.4%	4,085
2016 (19 yrs)	49.1%	3,425
2015 (18 yrs)	47.4%	3,492
2014 (17 yrs)	46.3%	3,558
2013 (16 yrs)	45.3%	3,610
2012 (15 yrs)	47%	3,716
2011 (14 yrs)	47.6%	3,914
2010 (13 yrs)	49.3%	4,015
2009 (12 yrs)	50%	4,221

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 4,221Avg Mileage 124,185Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.0%

2010High Fail Rate

49.3%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 4,015Avg Mileage 128,045Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.3%

2011High Fail Rate

47.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 3,914Avg Mileage 132,838Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%

2012High Fail Rate

47.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 3,716Avg Mileage 136,697Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.7%

2013High Fail Rate

45.3%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 3,610Avg Mileage 140,357Top Failure Brakes — 97.8%

2014High Fail Rate

46.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 3,558Avg Mileage 144,685Top Failure Brakes — 99.0%

2015High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 3,492Avg Mileage 148,787Top Failure Brakes — 93.5%

2016High Fail Rate

49.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 3,425Avg Mileage 152,099Top Failure Brakes — 87.9%

2017High Fail Rate

49.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 4,085Avg Mileage 154,026Top Failure Brakes — 91.8%

2018High Fail Rate

51.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 2,834Avg Mileage 156,929Top Failure Brakes — 85.5%

2019High Fail Rate

51.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 2,848Avg Mileage 157,515Top Failure Brakes — 88.3%

2020High Fail Rate

54.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 2,647Avg Mileage 159,240Top Failure Brakes — 80.3%

2021High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 3,421Avg Mileage 159,843Top Failure Brakes — 86.6%

2022High Fail Rate

53.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 2,864Avg Mileage 161,066Top Failure Brakes — 83.7%

2023High Fail Rate

54.3%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 3,185Avg Mileage 162,193Top Failure Brakes — 84.4%

2024High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 6,687Avg Mileage 160,668Top Failure Brakes — 69.6%

MOT results for 1997 Volkswagen Transporter by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	50.0%	4,221	124,185	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.0%
2010	13	49.3%	4,015	128,045	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.3%
2011	14	47.6%	3,914	132,838	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%
2012	15	47.0%	3,716	136,697	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.7%
2013	16	45.3%	3,610	140,357	Brakes — 97.8%
2014	17	46.3%	3,558	144,685	Brakes — 99.0%
2015	18	47.4%	3,492	148,787	Brakes — 93.5%
2016	19	49.1%	3,425	152,099	Brakes — 87.9%
2017	20	49.4%	4,085	154,026	Brakes — 91.8%
2018	21	51.1%	2,834	156,929	Brakes — 85.5%
2019	22	51.7%	2,848	157,515	Brakes — 88.3%
2020	23	54.0%	2,647	159,240	Brakes — 80.3%
2021	24	52.1%	3,421	159,843	Brakes — 86.6%
2022	25	53.7%	2,864	161,066	Brakes — 83.7%
2023	26	54.3%	3,185	162,193	Brakes — 84.4%
2024	27	55.8%	6,687	160,668	Brakes — 69.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Volkswagen Transporter, with age trends.

Brakes

73.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

59.6%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

51.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

49.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

45.9%

↓ 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	28.9% (12 yrs)	69.6% (27 yrs)	+40.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	22.6% (12 yrs)	55.9% (27 yrs)	+33.3%	🔴 ↑

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 58,522 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.