1990 Volkswagen Corrado — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1990 Volkswagen Corrado passed 79.4% of its 393 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests against 8.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and non catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 20 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1990 Corrado fails 25.6% of the time in the 60-90k band and 23.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.9 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 49 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 33 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 28 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.1% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 3 | Non catalyst emissions | 17 |
| 4 | Wipers | 14 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 6 | Washers | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.5% | 108 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.2% | 95 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.1% | 75 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 73 |
| 5 | Tyres | 10.7% | 42 |
| 6 | Steering | 10.2% | 40 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 43 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 78 | 19.2% |
| 120-150k | 127 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 131 | 23.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 84 | 19.1% |
| 2023 | 81 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 75 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 78 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Corrado
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1990 Volkswagen Corrados pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 393 1990 Volkswagen Corrado MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Volkswagen Corrado?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by brakes (8.4%).
Does the 1990 Corrado get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.6% in the 60-90k band to 23.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 393 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.