1991 Vauxhall Cavalier — MOT failures & pass rate
319 MOT tests on the 1991 Vauxhall Cavalier are in this dataset, and 82.1% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (22.3% fail rate), the 1991 Cavalier comes out 4.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.3%) and body, structure & corrosion (7.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, exhaust system and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 15 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 10.8% versus 23.7%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 33 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 24 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 21 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.0% | 19 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 14 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 15 |
| 2 | Exhaust system | 13 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 4 | Wipers | 10 |
| 5 | Switch | 9 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 8 |
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 | 20.1% | 64 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 18.5% | 59 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.2% | 42 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 41 |
| 5 | Brakes | 11.6% | 37 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.2% | 23 |
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 | 76 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 90 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 72 | 18.1% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 19.2% |
| 2022 | 72 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 57 | 10.5% |
| 2024 | 56 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 61 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Cavalier
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.5% 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+.
- Suspension (6.6% 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 1991 Vauxhall Cavaliers pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 319 1991 Vauxhall Cavalier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Vauxhall Cavalier?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (7.5%).
Does the 1991 Cavalier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.7% in the 30-60k band to 10.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 319 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.