Volkswagen Multivan
From 741 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 34 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 34 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 27 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 26 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 23 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 21 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 21 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 19 |
| service brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 18 |
| 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 | 18 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 16 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 31.8% of Multivan failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £104.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 82% while Diesel versions pass at 67%, a 15 percentage point gap.
Volkswagen Multivan on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 2,504 newly registered in the past year with 60 leaving, a net gain of 2,444. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 5,125 | 76 | +680 | -24 | +656 |
| 2025 Q2 | 4,465 | 80 | +781 | -3 | +778 |
| 2025 Q1 | 3,713 | 54 | +375 | -4 | +371 |
| 2024 Q4 | 3,364 | 32 | +668 | -29 | +639 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,731 | 26 | +411 | -0 | +414 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,315 | 28 | +217 | -0 | +226 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,081 | 36 | +505 | -26 | +479 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,602 | 36 | +627 | -0 | +627 |
8 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multivan Life Tdi S-A | Diesel | 1,586 | 31% |
| Multivan Life Phev S-A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,324 | 26% |
| Multivan Style Phev S-A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 877 | 17% |
| Multivan Style Tdi S-A | Diesel | 636 | 12% |
| Multivan Life Tsi Phev 4M Sa | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 351 | 7% |
| Multivan Style Tsi S-A | Petrol | 187 | 4% |
| Multivan Energetic Phev S-A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 107 | 2% |
| Multivan Life Tsi S-A | Petrol | 52 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 66.7% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 1998 | 60.7% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, service brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
Typical mileage
Half of all Multivans tested had between 113,885 and 189,127 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 159,052 median miles, the Multivan has 0.019 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volkswagen models
| Volkswagen Golf | 79.1% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Transporter | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 84.6% |
| Volkswagen Passat | 76.9% |
Common questions
What is the Volkswagen Multivan MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Multivan has a 70% MOT pass rate based on 741 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Multivan?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Multivan is steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 34 failures. Other common issues include the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired.
How many Volkswagen Multivans are on UK roads?
There are 5,125 Volkswagen Multivans currently licensed on UK roads, with 76 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Multivan at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Multivan is 159,052 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 113,885 and 189,127 miles.
Buying a used Multivan?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 70% pass rate and an average repair bill of £104 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.