Van · 1996–2014 cars
Volkswagen LT reliability
The Volkswagen LT fails 46% of first MOT tests, 5% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 7,797 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Volkswagen LT before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 46%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 5% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 7,797
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Volkswagen LT ages
Each point is the share of Volkswagen LTs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Volkswagen LT | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 45.5% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 49.8% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 45.6% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 47.6% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 44% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 43.9% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 51.8% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 44% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 46.1% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 46.3% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Volkswagen LT years
2003 cars come out best and 2004 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 854 | 48.1% | 8% more fails | 141,261 |
| 2005 LT | 1,262 | 46% | 1% more fails | 149,267 |
| 2004 LT | 1,233 | 49.1% | 7% more fails | 157,348 |
| 2003 LT | 1,047 | 43.2% | 6% fewer fails | 150,156 |
| 2002 | 909 | 45.5% | 1% more fails | 150,787 |
| 2001 | 543 | 49.4% | 16% more fails | 144,703 |
| 2000 | 470 | 50% | 18% more fails | 128,393 |
| 1999 | 626 | 45.8% | 14% more fails | 145,473 |
| 1998 | 450 | 43.8% | 14% more fails | 126,486 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Volkswagen LT
Its weak spot is brakes: 68% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics30.4%39% above avg
- Brakes25.2%68% above avg
- Suspension12.9%28% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure10.5%0% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors7.7%3% above avg
- Steering5.4%7% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks4.4%41% below avg
- Tyres3.7%45% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.7%53% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 7.37% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 2
Dipped beam headlamp not working 5.66% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 3
Main beam headlamp not working 5.54% of tests
A failed main beam reduces night-time visibility on unlit roads, so the headlamp should be repaired promptly.
- 4
Position lamp not working 5.13% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Stop lamp not working 4.01% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 6
Service brake efficiency below minimum 3.82% of tests
The brakes are not stopping the car effectively enough, a serious safety risk that needs urgent repair before driving.
- 7
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.72% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 8
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 3.57% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Volkswagen LT's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy19.06%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive17.74%
- Brake disc pitted or scored11.88%
- Suspension ball joint slight play10.62%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit8.61%
- Slight play in steering rack joints7.67%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Volkswagen LT
- 1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 2
Dipped beam headlamp not working
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 3
Main beam headlamp not working
A failed main beam reduces night-time visibility on unlit roads, so the headlamp should be repaired promptly.
- 4
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel99.5%
- Petrol0.3%
- LPG0.2%
Most common colours
White, Grey, Blue, Green, Red
Average engine size: 2.5 litres.
Compare
How the Volkswagen LT compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Iveco Daily | 36.2% | about average for its age |
| Volkswagen LT | 46% | 5% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| LDV Maxus | 45.8% | 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Suzuki Carry | 44% | 11% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Corsa Van | 46.9% | 12% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan NV300 | 27.3% | 43% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan e-NV200 | 26.3% | 103% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every van ranked in the van reliability index, or all Volkswagen models.
Questions
Volkswagen LT questions, answered
Is the Volkswagen LT reliable?
On MOT results, the Volkswagen LT is about average: it fails 46% of first MOT tests, 5% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 12 of 40 van models in our index.
What fails most on a Volkswagen LT MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen LT are parking brake efficiency below minimum (7.37% of tests), dipped beam headlamp not working (5.66% of tests), main beam headlamp not working (5.54% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 30.4% of its tests.
Which Volkswagen LT year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2003 cars do best (6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2004 cars do worst (7% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Volkswagen LT before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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