2019 Volkswagen Caravelle — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Volkswagen Caravelle passed 87.3% of its 3,242 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 11.5%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.3%) and suspension (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 86 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.8% once past 150k — 2.0× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 172 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.1% | 133 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 83 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 66 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 48 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 86 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 77 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 66 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 56 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 47 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 45 |
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 | 21.9% | 709 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.3% | 432 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.9% | 288 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.6% | 245 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 126 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 32 |
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 | 1,134 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,521 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 448 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 77 | 16.9% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 15.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | 761 | 7.6% |
| 2023 | 792 | 12.3% |
| 2024 | 818 | 13.3% |
| 2025 | 831 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Caravelle
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Suspension (4.1% 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 (2.6% 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 2019 Volkswagen Caravelles pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 3,242 2019 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Volkswagen Caravelle?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by suspension (4.1%).
Does the 2019 Caravelle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 15.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,242 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.