1990 Volkswagen Motor/Caravan — MOT failures & pass rate
253 MOT tests on the 1990 Volkswagen Motor/Caravan are in this dataset, and 73.5% of them passed. That is 4.8 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in visibility, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (10.7%) and suspension (9.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, wipers and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 24 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1990 Motor/Caravan fails 27.3% of the time in the 60-90k band and 24.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.0% in 2021 to 27.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 10.7% | 27 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.1% | 23 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 22 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.7% | 17 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 14 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 24 |
| 2 | Wipers | 22 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 4 | Washers | 11 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 10 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 7 |
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 | 40.3% | 102 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.8% | 73 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.8% | 35 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.4% | 34 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.4% | 34 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 28 |
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 | 33 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 53 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 88 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 61 | 24.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 181 | 27.6% |
| Diesel | 72 | 23.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40 | 30.0% |
| 2022 | 56 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 48 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 54 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 55 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Motor/Caravan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 10.7% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (10.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (9.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 Motor/Caravans pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 253 1990 Volkswagen Motor/Caravan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Volkswagen Motor/Caravan?
Visibility, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by suspension (9.1%).
Does the 1990 Motor/Caravan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.3% in the 60-90k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 253 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.