1995 Volkswagen Caravelle — MOT failures & pass rate
2,126 MOT tests on the 1995 Volkswagen Caravelle are in this dataset, and 66.9% of them passed. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 31.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.1% of tests against 16.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and integral vehicle structure condition — service brake performance alone was recorded 240 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 29.0% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 34.6% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.3% 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 | 21.1% | 448 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 340 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 286 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.8% | 272 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 159 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.9% | 147 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 240 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 212 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 166 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 165 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 129 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 127 |
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 | 41.3% | 877 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.7% | 631 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.8% | 527 |
| 4 | Other defects | 23.1% | 492 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 22.3% | 474 |
| 6 | Tyres | 20.6% | 437 |
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 | 62 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 184 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 312 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,546 | 34.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,752 | 33.2% |
| Petrol | 374 | 32.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 461 | 33.4% |
| 2022 | 452 | 32.7% |
| 2023 | 427 | 33.5% |
| 2024 | 403 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 383 | 32.4% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Caravelle
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.0% 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 1995 Volkswagen Caravelles pass their MOT?
66.9% of the 2,126 1995 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Volkswagen Caravelle?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.1% of tests, followed by brakes (16.0%).
Does the 1995 Caravelle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.0% in the 60-90k band to 34.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,126 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.