1993 Vauxhall Carlton — MOT failures & pass rate
464 MOT tests on the 1993 Vauxhall Carlton are in this dataset, and 82.1% of them passed. That is 5.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.0%) and suspension (9.0%) 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, pins and bushes and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 28 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 21.4% versus 11.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.2% in 2021 to 17.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 42 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 42 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 30 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.5% | 30 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 24 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 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 | 28 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 23 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 19 |
| 4 | Washers | 18 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 17 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
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 | 22.6% | 105 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.0% | 93 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.4% | 76 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 71 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 58 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.1% | 56 |
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 | 71 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 93 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 100 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 96 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 84 | 21.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 113 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 102 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 81 | 14.8% |
| 2024 | 87 | 19.5% |
| 2025 | 81 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Carlton
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (6.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1993 Vauxhall Carltons pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 464 1993 Vauxhall Carlton MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Vauxhall Carlton?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by suspension (9.0%).
Does the 1993 Carlton get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 30-60k band to 21.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 464 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.