1993 Volkswagen Caravelle — MOT failures & pass rate
516 MOT tests on the 1993 Volkswagen Caravelle are in this dataset, and 70.0% of them passed. Against MPVs of a similar age (31.4% fail rate), the 1993 Caravelle comes out 1.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.2% of tests against 14.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 64 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1993 Caravelle fails 30.2% of the time in the 60-90k band and 30.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 94 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 74 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 73 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.4% | 59 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 34 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 64 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 46 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 38 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 33 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 29 |
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 | 33.5% | 173 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.9% | 139 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.4% | 136 |
| 4 | Other defects | 21.1% | 109 |
| 5 | Tyres | 19.4% | 100 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 86 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 53 | 30.2% |
| 90-120k | 47 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 113 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 279 | 30.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 266 | 30.8% |
| Petrol | 250 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 103 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 111 | 29.7% |
| 2023 | 113 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 102 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 87 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Caravelle
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.3% 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 (14.1% 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 1993 Volkswagen Caravelles pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 516 1993 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Volkswagen Caravelle?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.2% of tests, followed by brakes (14.3%).
Does the 1993 Caravelle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.2% in the 60-90k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 516 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.