2013 Volkswagen Caravelle — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Volkswagen Caravelle passed 81.9% of its 4,256 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 20.9% of the time, so this is 2.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 8.2% of tests against 5.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 168 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.0% in the 0-30k band and 24.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.9-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.2% | 349 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 212 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.8% | 203 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.7% | 157 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 152 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 70 |
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 | 168 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 110 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 108 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 107 |
| 5 | Washers | 101 |
| 6 | Wipers | 70 |
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 | 23.8% | 1,015 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.0% | 809 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.4% | 785 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 401 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.1% | 346 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 204 |
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 | 154 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 877 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,543 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,110 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 354 | 18.4% |
| 150k+ | 217 | 24.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 845 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 847 | 16.9% |
| 2023 | 837 | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 864 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 863 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Caravelle
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.2% 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 (5.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2013 Volkswagen Caravelles pass their MOT?
81.9% of the 4,256 2013 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Caravelle?
Suspension, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.0%).
Does the 2013 Caravelle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 24.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,256 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.