1986 Vauxhall Cavalier — MOT failures & pass rate
461 MOT tests on the 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier are in this dataset, and 82.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 20.4% of the time, so this is 2.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.7%) and brakes (8.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake imbalance, service brake performance and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake imbalance alone was recorded 30 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.3% once past 90-120k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 17.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.6% in 2021 to 14.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 40 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 38 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 33 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.2% | 24 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 18 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.3% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake imbalance | 30 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 28 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 14 |
| 4 | Non catalyst emissions | 14 |
| 5 | Wipers | 13 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.8% | 82 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.7% | 77 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 59 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 41 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.5% | 30 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.1% | 28 |
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 | 108 | 22.2% |
| 30-60k | 186 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 110 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 45 | 13.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 102 | 20.6% |
| 2022 | 88 | 14.8% |
| 2023 | 93 | 22.6% |
| 2024 | 94 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 84 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Cavalier
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1986 Vauxhall Cavaliers pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 461 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by brakes (8.2%).
Does the 1986 Cavalier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.2% in the 0-30k band to 13.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 461 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.