2011 Volkswagen Caravelle — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,142 MOT tests, the 2011 Volkswagen Caravelle recorded a 78.9% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 24.5% of the time, so this is 3.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.8%) and lighting & signalling (7.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, washers and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 177 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.7% in the 0-30k band and 24.3% in the 150k+ band, a 9.6-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.8% | 366 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 313 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 215 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.9% | 204 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 178 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 116 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 177 |
| 2 | Washers | 122 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 116 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 112 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 95 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 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 | Tyres | 24.1% | 998 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.5% | 972 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.0% | 788 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 412 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.3% | 386 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 261 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 95 | 14.7% |
| 30-60k | 497 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,068 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,119 | 22.3% |
| 120-150k | 636 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 727 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,112 | 21.1% |
| Petrol | 30 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 799 | 18.6% |
| 2022 | 845 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 837 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 823 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 838 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Caravelle
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.2% 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 2011 Volkswagen Caravelles pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 4,142 2011 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volkswagen Caravelle?
Suspension, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.6%).
Does the 2011 Caravelle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,142 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.