Used car guide · 1990–2006

Volkswagen LT common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Volkswagen LT, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 6,969 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

6,969MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
25on the UK register
2006best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419911990

What usually goes wrong with a Volkswagen LT?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Volkswagen LT in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Volkswagen LT MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Ball joint

    up to 3.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes

    up to 7.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003 and 2006.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints

    up to 5.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004 and 2005.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Volkswagen LT MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2006 Volkswagen LT did best (55% passed first time, 1 point below all 2006 cars) and the 2005 did worst (54%, 3 points below all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200655%56% -1764
200554%57% -31,117
200455%57% -21,065
200356%57% -1870
200255%58% -3751
200152%60% -8422 (small sample)
200052%61% -9379 (small sample)
199958%63% -5418 (small sample)
199857%65% -8357 (small sample)
199752%65% -13186 (small sample)
199653%66% -13135 (small sample)
199553%67% -14128 (small sample)
199449%67% -18111 (small sample)
199156%71% -15111 (small sample)
199053%72% -19155 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Volkswagen LT

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the Volkswagen LT as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link bushes? (Flagged at MOT 7.7× as often on the Volkswagen LT as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 5.2× as often on the Volkswagen LT as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen LT?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score