Volkswagen T-Porter

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 2013 2.0 diesel. 19 of 131 tests failed, 15%.

Better than 74% of 2013 cars. The typical one fails 19%, across 828 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• A tyre seriously damaged
• A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
• A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
• A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
• A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
• A wheel bearing excessively rough

Where it stands out against its peers

• Body and structure: failed more often than 91% of 2013 cars — 26% of its 19 failed tests, where an ordinary 2013 car has 8%.

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.

• Suspension — 42% of its failures
  • A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
• Brakes — 37% of its failures
  • A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
• Tyres and wheels — 26% of its failures
  • A tyre seriously damaged
  • A wheel bearing excessively rough
• Exhaust and emissions — 5% of its failures
• Lights and electrics — 37% of its failures
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
  • A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • A battery insecure and likely to fall from carrier or cause a short circuit
• Body and structure — 26% of its failures