Vauxhall Carlton MOT pass rate & common failures
The Vauxhall Carlton appears in 1,323 MOT tests spanning model years 1980–2008, and 86.4% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), the Carlton comes out 9.0pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.7%) and suspension (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, washers and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 51 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.5% in the 0-30k band and 17.7% in the 150k+ band, a 11.2-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.6% in 2021 to 9.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Carlton model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 32 | 84.4% | 15.6% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1988 | 50 | 84.0% | 16.0% | Brakes |
| 1989 | 61 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Suspension |
| 1990 | 65 | 89.2% | 10.8% | Suspension |
| 1991 | 251 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 204 | 87.8% | 12.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 464 | 82.1% | 17.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 91 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 89 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.9% | 78 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.7% | 62 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 56 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 55 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 51 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.1% | 28 |
| 8 | Tyres | 1.7% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 51 |
| 2 | Washers | 39 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 37 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 33 |
| 5 | Wipers | 32 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 30 |
| 7 | Prescribed areas | 28 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.9% | 277 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 224 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 179 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.0% | 172 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 157 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.9% | 104 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 92 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 198 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 377 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 308 | 12.7% |
| 120-150k | 198 | 21.7% |
| 150k+ | 147 | 17.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 324 | 17.6% |
| 2022 | 281 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 250 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 246 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 222 | 9.9% |
What to check before buying a Vauxhall Carlton
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (4.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Carlton?
86.4% of the 1,323 Vauxhall Carlton MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.6% fail rate, across model years 1980–2008.
What does the Vauxhall Carlton most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests, then suspension (5.9%).
How much does mileage affect Carlton MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 17.7% for 150k+, a 11.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,323 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.