2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 972 MOT tests, the 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive recorded an 87.4% pass rate. That is 4.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 8.7%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.8%) and suspension (4.9%) 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 34 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.7% versus 10.1%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | 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 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 8 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 8 |
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 | 34 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 19 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 13 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 5 | Washers | 6 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 6 |
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 | 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.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 407 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 498 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 62 | 17.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 467 | 12.2% |
| 2025 | 495 | 13.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Caravelle Executive
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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 Executives pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 972 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle Executive?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by suspension (4.9%).
Does the 2021 Caravelle Executive 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 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.