Volkswagen Motor Caravan
From 2,697 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame and spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. The top issue, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, caused 117 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 117 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 101 |
| 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 | 90 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 81 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 78 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 68 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 64 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 64 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 57 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 53 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 22.1% of Motor Caravan failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 18.4% 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 £125.
Fuel type matters
Diesel versions pass at 77.7% while Petrol versions pass at 72.3%, a 5 percentage point gap.
Volkswagen Motor Caravan on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 39 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 39. Now at 86.9% of its peak (9,225 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 5,291 | 2,728 | +0 | -0 | +15 |
| 2025 Q2 | 5,316 | 2,688 | +0 | -0 | +15 |
| 2025 Q1 | 5,368 | 2,621 | +0 | -0 | +62 |
| 2024 Q4 | 5,424 | 2,503 | +0 | -39 | -39 |
| 2024 Q3 | 5,524 | 2,442 | +0 | -54 | -54 |
| 2024 Q2 | 5,581 | 2,439 | +0 | -48 | -48 |
| 2024 Q1 | 5,605 | 2,463 | +0 | -0 | +153 |
| 2023 Q4 | 5,450 | 2,465 | +0 | -26 | -26 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 67.9% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing 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 |
| 1974 | 71.3% | 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 |
| 1973 | 69.7% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1972 | 75.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all Motor Caravans tested had between 41,366 and 120,535 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 83,758 median miles, the Motor Caravan has 0.031 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 Motor Caravan MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Motor Caravan has a 74.2% MOT pass rate based on 2,697 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Motor Caravan?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Motor Caravan is windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, which caused 117 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Volkswagen Motor Caravans are on UK roads?
There are 5,291 Volkswagen Motor Caravans currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,728 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Motor Caravan at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Motor Caravan is 83,758 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 41,366 and 120,535 miles.
Buying a used Motor Caravan?
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 74.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £125 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.