1987 Vauxhall Cavalier — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1987 Vauxhall Cavalier passed 82.8% of its 408 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (20.6% fail rate), the 1987 Cavalier comes out 3.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.1%) and brakes (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, non catalyst emissions and service brake imbalance — service brake performance alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1987 Cavalier fails 14.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 14.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.5 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 19.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.2% in 2021 to 12.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 33 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.3% | 30 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 28 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 21 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 18 |
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 performance | 19 |
| 2 | Non catalyst emissions | 17 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 17 |
| 4 | Wipers | 12 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 11 |
| 6 | Wheel bearings | 10 |
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 | 19.9% | 81 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 73 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 12.8% | 52 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 45 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.1% | 33 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.9% | 24 |
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 | 88 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 90 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 171 | 18.1% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 14.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87 | 17.2% |
| 2022 | 85 | 14.1% |
| 2023 | 79 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 82 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 75 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Cavalier
On a 1987 Cavalier, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.3% 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.
- Suspension (6.9% 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.
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 1987 Vauxhall Cavaliers pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 408 1987 Vauxhall Cavalier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Vauxhall Cavalier?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by brakes (7.3%).
Does the 1987 Cavalier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 408 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.