2020 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive passed 87.3% of its 1,082 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.4%) and tyres (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, coil spring and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 36 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.3% in the 0-30k band and 18.5% in the 60-90k band, a 11.2-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2023 against 16.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.4% | 58 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 57 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.9% | 31 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 13 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 12 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 36 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 32 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 28 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 25 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
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 | 16.2% | 175 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 110 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.8% | 73 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 56 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 38 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 8 |
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 | 436 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 524 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 108 | 18.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 336 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 360 | 11.1% |
| 2025 | 382 | 16.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Caravelle Executive
On a 2020 Caravelle Executive, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Brakes (2.9% 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 2020 Volkswagen Caravelle Executives pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 1,082 2020 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive?
Suspension, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2020 Caravelle Executive get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 18.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,082 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.