1995 Vauxhall Cavalier — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1995 Vauxhall Cavalier passed 75.4% of its 1,774 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.3%) and lighting & signalling (11.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 211 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.0% versus 23.8%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.3% | 235 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 206 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.1% | 179 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.1% | 179 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 158 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 85 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 211 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 171 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 103 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 75 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 69 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 66 |
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 | 30.2% | 536 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 528 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.7% | 367 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.5% | 310 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.4% | 308 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.9% | 300 |
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 | 147 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 458 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 464 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 312 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 373 | 30.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,523 | 24.6% |
| Diesel | 251 | 24.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 455 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 393 | 24.7% |
| 2023 | 358 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 298 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 270 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Cavalier
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.1% 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 1995 Vauxhall Cavaliers pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 1,774 1995 Vauxhall Cavalier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Vauxhall Cavalier?
Suspension, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.6%).
Does the 1995 Cavalier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.8% in the 30-60k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,774 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.