1994 Vauxhall Cavalier — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,188 MOT tests, the 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier recorded a 78.0% pass rate. That is 1.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.8%) and suspension (9.8%) 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, catalyst emissions and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 129 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.9% versus 0.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 26.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.7% in 2021 to 19.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 128 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 117 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 107 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.9% | 94 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 89 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 38 |
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 | 129 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 101 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 53 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 44 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 41 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 39 |
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 | 26.8% | 318 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.6% | 281 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.5% | 196 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 189 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 164 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.5% | 160 |
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 | 31 | 0.0% |
| 30-60k | 102 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 275 | 21.1% |
| 90-120k | 312 | 21.8% |
| 120-150k | 260 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 205 | 23.9% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,055 | 22.6% |
| Diesel | 133 | 18.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 322 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 285 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 234 | 20.1% |
| 2024 | 187 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 160 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Cavalier
On a 1994 Cavalier, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.0% 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 1994 Vauxhall Cavaliers pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 1,188 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by suspension (9.8%).
Does the 1994 Cavalier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 0.0% in the 0-30k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,188 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.