2007 Volkswagen Caravelle — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Volkswagen Caravelle passed 73.2% of its 3,950 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.5 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 29.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.1% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and ball joint dust cover — headlamp aim alone was recorded 302 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.6% in the 30-60k band and 29.6% in the 150k+ band, a 7.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 675 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 539 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 338 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.4% | 215 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 196 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.1% | 162 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 302 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 232 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 203 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 154 |
| 5 | Washers | 152 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 142 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 34.3% | 1,356 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.6% | 1,207 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.6% | 891 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 708 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.7% | 501 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.0% | 394 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 97 | 21.6% |
| 60-90k | 480 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 770 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 977 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,607 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,805 | 26.8% |
| Petrol | 145 | 25.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 799 | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 796 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 783 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 796 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 776 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Caravelle
On a 2007 Caravelle, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (8.6% 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 2007 Volkswagen Caravelles pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 3,950 2007 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Volkswagen Caravelle?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by suspension (13.7%).
Does the 2007 Caravelle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.6% in the 30-60k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,950 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.