2009 Volkswagen Caravelle — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle passed 74.7% of its 2,685 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2009 Caravelle comes out 2.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.3%) and suspension (12.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, headlamp aim and coil spring — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 159 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.1% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 383 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 337 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.8% | 156 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 115 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.3% | 114 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 95 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 159 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 157 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 108 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 98 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 94 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 79 |
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 | 30.1% | 809 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.6% | 661 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.5% | 550 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 467 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.8% | 263 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 260 |
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 | 222 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 524 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 770 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 571 | 26.8% |
| 150k+ | 570 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,625 | 25.6% |
| Petrol | 60 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 559 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 526 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 519 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 551 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 530 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Caravelle
On a 2009 Caravelle, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.6% 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 (5.8% 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 2009 Volkswagen Caravelles pass their MOT?
74.7% of the 2,685 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by suspension (12.6%).
Does the 2009 Caravelle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 30-60k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,685 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.