1992 Volkswagen Caravelle — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Volkswagen Caravelle passed 67.7% of its 378 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.5 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 29.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.1% of all tests — 6.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are integral vehicle structure condition, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — integral vehicle structure condition alone was recorded 37 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 90-120k one: 31.3% versus 38.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 37.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 37.7% in 2021 to 30.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 76 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.0% | 53 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 51 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.0% | 49 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.5% | 36 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 37 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 37 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 33 |
| 4 | Wipers | 29 |
| 5 | Joints | 23 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 21 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 37.3% | 141 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.1% | 110 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.7% | 101 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.9% | 98 |
| 5 | Other defects | 25.7% | 97 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 17.2% | 65 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 36 | 38.9% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 32.4% |
| 150k+ | 249 | 31.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 200 | 30.0% |
| Petrol | 178 | 34.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61 | 37.7% |
| 2022 | 89 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 84 | 34.5% |
| 2024 | 78 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 66 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Caravelle
On a 1992 Caravelle, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1992 Volkswagen Caravelles pass their MOT?
67.7% of the 378 1992 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Volkswagen Caravelle?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by brakes (14.0%).
Does the 1992 Caravelle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 38.9% in the 90-120k band to 31.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 378 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.