Volkswagen Crafter 2012: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2012 Volkswagen Crafter include Anti-lock braking system (~7.4× peers) and Rbt (sp) (~4.5× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (207 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 207 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Anti-lock braking system
This failure pattern appears about 7.4× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 26 failed first-attempt tests; 12.6% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 26 failures · ×7.4 vs similar cars · 12.6% of failed first tests · Possible elevated fault
Rbt (sp)
This failure pattern appears about 4.5× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 62 failed first-attempt tests; 30.0% of failed tests for this model year.
Any · 62 failures · ×4.5 vs similar cars · 30.0% of failed first tests · Likely common fault pattern
No patterns met the strongest callout thresholds on this page; showing the highest-lift rows that still cleared the display floors.
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Anti-lock braking system
Brakes > ABS / EBS / ESC > Anti-lock braking system
|
Any | 26 | ×7.4 | 12.6% | Possible elevated fault |
| 2 |
Rbt (sp)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake efficiency (sp) > Rbt (sp)
|
Any | 62 | ×4.5 | 30.0% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 3 |
Malfunction indicator lamp
Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Compression ignition > Malfunction indicator lamp
|
Any | 20 | ×3.0 | 9.7% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Rigid brake pipes
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Any | 26 | ×8.4 | 12.6% | Elevated vs peers |
| 2 |
Rigid brake pipes (front)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Front | 25 | ×4.7 | 12.1% | Elevated vs peers |
| 3 |
Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
|
Front | 20 | ×3.7 | 9.7% | Elevated vs peers |
| 4 |
Non-component advisories (front)
Non-component advisories
|
Front | 22 | ×3.4 | 10.6% | Elevated vs peers |
| 5 |
Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Rear | 22 | ×2.7 | 10.6% | Elevated vs peers |
| 6 |
Non-component advisories
Non-component advisories
|
Any | 22 | ×2.4 | 10.6% | Elevated vs peers |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.