Volkswagen Caravelle Executive MOT pass rate & common failures
The Volkswagen Caravelle Executive appears in 2,209 MOT tests spanning model years 2019–2023, and 87.4% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (9.0% fail rate), the Caravelle Executive comes out 3.6pp worse. Its most common failure areas are tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and suspension (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, brake pads and coil spring — shock absorbers alone was recorded 64 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.1% versus 8.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.4% of tests failed in 2023 against 14.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Caravelle Executive model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,082 | 87.3% | 12.8% | Suspension |
| 2021 | 972 | 87.4% | 12.7% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 141 | 87.9% | 12.1% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 121 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.0% | 111 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 58 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 28 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 22 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 17 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 64 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 56 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 45 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 21 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 7 | Washers | 14 |
| 8 | Pins and bushes | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 18.0% | 397 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 238 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.8% | 149 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.4% | 120 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 82 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 10 |
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 | 933 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,086 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 171 | 18.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 346 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 843 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 1,010 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Caravelle Executive
- Tyres (5.5% 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 (5.0% 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 (2.6% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Caravelle Executive?
87.4% of the 2,209 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.6% fail rate, across model years 2019–2023.
What does the Volkswagen Caravelle Executive most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, then suspension (5.0%).
How much does mileage affect Caravelle Executive MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 18.1% for 60-90k, a 9.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,209 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.