1988 Vauxhall Cavalier — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 315 MOT tests, the 1988 Vauxhall Cavalier recorded an 84.4% pass rate. That is 5.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.3%) and body, structure & corrosion (6.7%) 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, service brake performance and non catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 17 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1988 Cavalier fails 17.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 13.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Body, structure & corrosion is the most common advisory, noted on 19.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 23 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 21 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 19 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 17 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 13 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 12 |
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 | 17 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 13 |
| 3 | Non catalyst emissions | 12 |
| 4 | Joints | 10 |
| 5 | Wheel bearings | 8 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 7 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 60 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 57 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.5% | 52 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.5% | 33 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.7% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 19 |
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 | 116 | 17.2% |
| 30-60k | 72 | 8.3% |
| 60-90k | 72 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 30 | 13.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 82 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 66 | 15.2% |
| 2024 | 53 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 55 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 1988 Cavalier
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.7% 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+.
- Brakes (6.0% 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 1988 Vauxhall Cavaliers pass their MOT?
84.4% of the 315 1988 Vauxhall Cavalier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1988 Vauxhall Cavalier?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.7%).
Does the 1988 Cavalier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.2% in the 0-30k band to 13.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 315 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.