2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 972 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 87.4% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.7% in the 60-90k group versus 10.1% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

972

MOT tests analysed

12.7%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

3.5

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	5.8%	56
2	Suspension	4.9%	48
3	Brakes	2.4%	23
4	Visibility	1.3%	13
5	Lighting & signalling	0.8%	8
6	Seat belts & restraints	0.8%	8

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Shock absorbers	34
2	Brake pads	19
3	Coil spring	13
4	Tread depth	12
5	Tyre pressure monitoring system	6
6	Washers	6

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	20.5%	199
2	Brakes	11.8%	115
3	Suspension	7.2%	70
4	Other defects	5.9%	57
5	Visibility	3.5%	34
6	Emissions & environmental	0.5%	5

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2021 Caravelle Executive S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	407	10.1%
30-60k	498	14.1%
60-90k	62	17.7%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 Caravelle Executive S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2024	467	12.2%
2025	495	13.3%

What to check before buying a 2021 Caravelle Executive S-A

Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests for this year.

Tyres (5.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Suspension (4.9% 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.
Brakes (2.4% 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 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive S-As pass their MOT?

87.4% of the 972 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by suspension (4.9%).

Does the 2021 Caravelle Executive S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 17.7% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 972 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.