Volkswagen Transporter (2002)

8,460 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.4% first-time pass rate

2002 Volkswagen Transporter

CarHunch analysed 8,460 real MOT records for the 2002 Volkswagen Transporter. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 9.6% below UK average
70.4%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
131,243
typical mileage
98,213–163,730 middle half
53.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
7.39
avg MOT failures per car
over 24 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2002 Volkswagen Transporter

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 53.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Volkswagen Transporter

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (99%) 8,403 70.4% 7.39
Petrol (1%) 53 69.6% 6.74
LPG (0%) 2 53.9% 11
Diesel (0%) 1 85.7% 1
Other (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

98,213
low mileage
131,243
typical
163,730
high mileage

Half of all 2002 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles fall between 98,213 and 163,730 miles.

2002 Volkswagen Transporter — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 5,833 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 81% of the peak.

7,159 5,833 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

24
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
7.39
Avg failures per vehicle
42.8
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 Volkswagen Transporter

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 108.1%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 53.2%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 52.2%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 47.9%
    Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated
  • 44.7%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material
  • 44.6%
    Oil leak
  • 44.6%
    Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'
  • 44.6%
    Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Volkswagen Transporter?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Volkswagen Transporter:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021