Volkswagen Caravelle
From 32,690 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Caravelles fare better: 2020 models pass at 81.7% vs 68.5% for 1984.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 1,365 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,365 |
| 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 | 1,067 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 820 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 807 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 805 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 745 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 672 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 655 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 564 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 554 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 23.2% of Caravelle failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 23.8% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £135.
Fuel type matters
Diesel versions pass at 73.1% while Petrol versions pass at 67.8%, a 5 percentage point gap.
Volkswagen Caravelle on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 152 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 37 newly registered, a net loss of 115.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 14,862 | 2,479 | +34 | -39 | -5 |
| 2025 Q2 | 14,887 | 2,459 | +0 | -0 | +17 |
| 2025 Q1 | 14,587 | 2,742 | +0 | -32 | -32 |
| 2024 Q4 | 14,735 | 2,626 | +3 | -81 | -78 |
| 2024 Q3 | 15,169 | 2,270 | +4 | -0 | +36 |
| 2024 Q2 | 15,231 | 2,172 | +13 | -0 | +64 |
| 2024 Q1 | 15,001 | 2,338 | +7 | -172 | -165 |
| 2023 Q4 | 15,068 | 2,436 | +3 | -27 | -24 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caravelle Executive Tdi Bmt Sa | Diesel | 2,239 | 19% |
| Caravelle 78Ps | Gas | 1,712 | 14% |
| Caravelle Tdi Swb | Diesel | 976 | 8% |
| Caravelle Se Tdi 130 | Diesel | 878 | 7% |
| Caravelle Executive Tdi S-A | Diesel | 876 | 7% |
| Caravelle Executive Bmt Tdi A | Diesel | 634 | 5% |
| Caravelle Exec Tdi 174 A | Diesel | 548 | 5% |
| Caravelle Se Tdi 140 | Diesel | 546 | 5% |
| Caravelle Se Tdi Bmt S-A | Diesel | 425 | 4% |
| Caravelle Ex-Ive Tdi180 A | Diesel | 396 | 3% |
| Caravelle Ex-Ive Tdi140 A | Diesel | 382 | 3% |
| Caravelle Se Tdi 174 | Diesel | 329 | 3% |
| Caravelle Exec Tdi 174 | Diesel | 328 | 3% |
| Caravelle Se Bmt Tdi Auto | Diesel | 311 | 3% |
| Caravelle Se Tdi 140 Auto | Diesel | 271 | 2% |
| Caravelle Tdi Swb Auto | Diesel | 256 | 2% |
| Caravelle Se Bmt Tdi | Diesel | 228 | 2% |
| Caravelle Exec Tdi 130 A | Diesel | 223 | 2% |
| Caravelle Se Tdi Bmt | Diesel | 206 | 2% |
| Caravelle Se Tdi S-A | Diesel | 206 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 81.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 86.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2018 | 81.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2017 | 82.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
33 earlier years
| 2016 | 81.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 78.5% | warning device shows system malfunction, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2014 | 79.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2013 | 80.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2012 | 79.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2011 | 78.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2010 | 75.5% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2009 | 69.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2008 | 68.7% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2007 | 70.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2006 | 67.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 68.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 67.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 65.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2002 | 69.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2001 | 67.2% | 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 |
| 2000 | 68.2% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 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 |
| 1999 | 65.5% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 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 |
| 1998 | 66.8% | 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1997 | 66.6% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 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 |
| 1996 | 62.7% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 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 |
| 1995 | 62.4% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1994 | 60.4% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1993 | 63.3% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 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 |
| 1991 | 67.6% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1990 | 65.8% | 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, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 1989 | 73% | emissions levels exceed default limits, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1988 | 73.8% | 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, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 1987 | 68% | 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1986 | 62.4% | 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1985 | 64.2% | 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1984 | 68.5% | 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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1983 | 61.3% | 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, emissions levels exceed default limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Caravelles tested had between 47,770 and 89,315 miles on the clock.
At 63,112 median miles, the Caravelle has 0.044 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 Caravelle MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Caravelle has a 72.1% MOT pass rate based on 32,690 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Caravelle?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Caravelle is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 1,365 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 Caravelles are on UK roads?
There are 14,862 Volkswagen Caravelles currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,479 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Caravelle at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Caravelle is 63,112 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 47,770 and 89,315 miles.
Buying a used Caravelle?
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 72.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £135 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.