Volkswagen Crafter
Registered from 2005 to 2024.
About this model
The Volkswagen Crafter, introduced in 2006, is the largest three- to five-ton van produced and sold by the German automaker Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The Crafter officially replaced the Volkswagen Transporter LT that was launched in 1975, although it is known as the LT3, its production plant code.
From the Wikipedia article Volkswagen Crafter, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2014 2.0 diesel. 137 of 720 tests failed, 19%.
Better than 39% of 2014 cars. The typical one fails 17%, across 870 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 61% | 84 |
| Suspension | 23% | 32 |
| Lights and electrics | 22% | 30 |
| Visibility | 16% | 22 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 12% | 17 |
| Tyres and wheels | 12% | 17 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value
Where it stands out against its peers
- Brakes: failed more often than 98% of 2014 cars — 61% of its 137 failed tests, where an ordinary 2014 car has 25%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 61% of its failures
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Suspension — 23% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Exhaust and emissions — 12% of its failures
- Tyres and wheels — 12% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 22% of its failures
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 16% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 200k+ miles this one fails 20% of its inspections, against the 24% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 9% | 11% | 35 | |
| 40–60k miles | 14% | 15% | 73 | |
| 60–80k miles | 16% | 19% | 83 | |
| 80–100k miles | 20% | 21% | 104 | |
| 100–120k miles | 17% | 23% | 108 | |
| 120–140k miles | 25% | 23% | 108 | |
| 140–160k miles | 19% | 23% | 78 | |
| 160–180k miles | 20% | 23% | 49 | |
| 200k+ miles | 20% | 24% | 50 |
688 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 100k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.0 diesel · 165 hp · 2926 kg · 3864 mm wheelbase · 9.9 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 2.0 diesel · 174 hp · 3077 kg · 3711 mm wheelbase · 11.1 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 2.0 diesel · 171 hp · 2348 kg · 3337 mm wheelbase · 7.6 L/100km (NEDC) · 217 Wh/km |
| 2016 | 2.0 diesel · 145 hp · 2334 kg · 3780 mm wheelbase · 7.8 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 2.0 diesel · 137 hp · 2340 kg · 3721 mm wheelbase · 7.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 2.0 diesel · 136 hp · 2381 kg · 3732 mm wheelbase · 7.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 2.0 diesel · 135 hp · 2365 kg · 3767 mm wheelbase · 7.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 2.0 diesel · 130 hp · 2454 kg · 3747 mm wheelbase · 8.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 2.5 diesel · 126 hp · 2509 kg · 3795 mm wheelbase · 10.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2010 | 2.5 diesel · 2606 kg · 3741 mm wheelbase · 10.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00923/24
The driver airbag's gas generator may be faulty, resulting in uncontrolled inflation and the release of metal fragments. This increases the risk of injuries to the occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00973/22
Due to a manufacturing error, involving an insufficient amount of glue, the motor hood can completely detach, which poses a risk of injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01485/22
The airbag propellant may deteriorate over time. In the event of an accident this can lead to the release of fragments of the front airbag from the generator housing, increasing the risk of injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01738/23
The airbag inflator may be faulty. In the event of an accident this can lead to the release of fragments of the front airbag from the generator housing, increasing the risk of injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0296/16
Due to insufficient paint adhesion, the window panels and any lashing rails in the load compartment may detach in the event of an accident.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/03004/23
The propellant in the front passenger airbag can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations. In the event of an accident in which the airbag deploys, this could result in fragments from the inflator casing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/03009/24
Possible leaks in the gas installation are not correctly detected in the manufacturing process. Gas leaks can cause an explosion, a fire or injuries to bystanders. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1265/18
Resonance vibrations at particular (high) speed can cause damage to the cardan shaft. As a consequence, it could break and lead to an accident.
Recall of the product from end users