2014 Volkswagen Caravelle — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,775 MOT tests, the 2014 Volkswagen Caravelle recorded an 81.7% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 19.1%, so the 2014 Caravelle sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.6%) and tyres (5.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 95 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.8% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.6% | 249 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 212 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.0% | 190 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 176 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 113 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.8% | 69 |
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 | 95 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 91 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 89 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 87 |
| 5 | Washers | 84 |
| 6 | Anti-lock braking system | 76 |
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 | 23.0% | 867 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.0% | 680 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.7% | 593 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 404 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.8% | 332 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 233 |
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 | 215 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 987 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,294 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 833 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 299 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 147 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 732 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 735 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 773 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 774 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 761 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Caravelle
On a 2014 Caravelle, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (6.6% 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.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Brakes (5.0% 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.
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 2014 Volkswagen Caravelles pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 3,775 2014 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volkswagen Caravelle?
Suspension, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2014 Caravelle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,775 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.