1991 Vauxhall Carlton — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1991 Vauxhall Carlton passed 92.0% of its 251 recorded MOT tests. That is 14.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.0%) and visibility (2.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, prescribed areas and non catalyst emissions — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 8 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.0% in the 30-60k band and 24.3% in the 120-150k band, a 19.3-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 17.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.3% in 2021 to 6.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.8% | 7 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 6 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 5 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.6% | 4 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 8 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 6 |
| 3 | Non catalyst emissions | 5 |
| 4 | Washers | 5 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 4 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 3 |
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 | 17.1% | 43 |
| 2 | Tyres | 11.2% | 28 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.4% | 21 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 20 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 16 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 11 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 40 | 5.0% |
| 60-90k | 80 | 2.5% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 4.7% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 53 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 57 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 45 | 6.7% |
| 2024 | 48 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 48 | 6.3% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Carlton
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (2.4% 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
How many 1991 Vauxhall Carltons pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 251 1991 Vauxhall Carlton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Vauxhall Carlton?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by visibility (2.8%).
Does the 1991 Carlton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 30-60k band to 24.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 251 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.