2021 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline TDI MOT pass rate: 83.7% (8,162 tests)
Is the 2021 Transporter T28 Startline TDI getting worse?
Pass rate of 2021-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 83.3% -7.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 84.1% -6.0 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2021 Transporter T28 Startline TDI
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 710 | 27.2% |
| 2 | Tyres | 524 | 20.1% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 501 | 19.2% |
| 4 | Brakes | 356 | 13.7% |
| 5 | Visibility | 239 | 9.2% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 149 | 5.7% |
All Transporter T28 Startline TDI years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3,604 | 82.3% | -6.1 pts | 65,759 |
| 2020 | 8,772 | 82.0% | -7.9 pts | 48,162 |
| 2021 (this page) | 8,162 | 83.7% | -6.7 pts | 44,444 |
| 2022 | 2,829 | 85.4% | -5.9 pts | 33,142 |
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FAQs
Is a 2021 Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline TDI reliable?
2021-registered examples passed 83.7% of their MOT tests (8,162 tests, 2023–2025), -6.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 5 years old with a median 44,444 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2021 Transporter T28 Startline TDI?
The median tested example shows 44,444 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.