1995 Volkswagen Corrado — MOT failures & pass rate
2,036 MOT tests on the 1995 Volkswagen Corrado are in this dataset, and 80.8% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 1995 Corrado comes out 5.0pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (10.1%) and lighting & signalling (9.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 90 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 23.4% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.9% in 2021 to 17.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.1% | 205 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 186 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 132 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 79 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 78 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 76 |
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 | 90 |
| 2 | Wipers | 78 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 75 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 74 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 64 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 49 |
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 | 30.2% | 614 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.3% | 577 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 332 |
| 4 | Tyres | 12.0% | 244 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 204 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.7% | 157 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 90 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 257 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 475 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 561 | 21.0% |
| 150k+ | 628 | 23.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 474 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 443 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 407 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 352 | 16.8% |
| 2025 | 360 | 17.5% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Corrado
On a 1995 Corrado, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (10.1% 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 (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.5% 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.
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 1995 Volkswagen Corrados pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 2,036 1995 Volkswagen Corrado MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Volkswagen Corrado?
Brakes, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.1%).
Does the 1995 Corrado get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 30-60k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,036 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.