1991 Volkswagen Corrado — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 687 MOT tests, the 1991 Volkswagen Corrado recorded an 80.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 22.4% of the time, so this is 2.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (11.6%) and lighting & signalling (11.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and rbt (sp) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 39 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Corrado fails 14.3% of the time in the 60-90k band and 16.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 25.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.4% in 2021 to 12.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.6% | 80 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 77 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 46 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.1% | 42 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 34 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 26 |
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 | 39 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 29 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 29 |
| 4 | Wipers | 28 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 26 |
| 6 | Wheel bearings | 25 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 25.2% | 173 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.9% | 171 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 94 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.3% | 91 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.3% | 91 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.3% | 43 |
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 | 56 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 166 | 22.9% |
| 120-150k | 217 | 20.7% |
| 150k+ | 192 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 168 | 24.4% |
| 2022 | 160 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 135 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 119 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 105 | 12.4% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Corrado
On a 1991 Corrado, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (11.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.7% 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 1991 Volkswagen Corrados pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 687 1991 Volkswagen Corrado MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Volkswagen Corrado?
Brakes, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.2%).
Does the 1991 Corrado get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.3% in the 60-90k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 687 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.