Volkswagen Caravelle MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Pass rate, every year

77.2% Around average

52,713 tests across 23 model years, 2000–2022.

−3.8 pts vs the national average

MOT PASS RATES

How the Volkswagen Caravelle really fares

77.2% of its MOTs pass — over 52,713 class-4 tests, 2023–2025

Pass rates

Every figure on this page comes from the DVSA's MOT test record.

The Volkswagen Caravelle MOT pass rate is 77.2%, −3.8 percentage points below the UK average. That is 52,713 DVSA MOT tests recorded between 2000 and 2022. This page lists the most common Volkswagen Caravelle MOT failures by category, names the best and worst model years, and finishes with a pre-MOT checklist you can run at home.

Check your postcode

MOT pass rates are national — type your postcode to see how Volkswagen Caravelle MOT pass rates does in your corner of the country.

How one model's pass rate varies by postcode →

Volkswagen Caravelle MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Volkswagen Caravelle passed on its first attempt in 71.4%, and its overall record sits −3.8 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Volkswagen Caravelle in the 2023–2025 data: 52,713 tests across 23 model years (2000–2022). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

MeasureThis model
Tests analysed52,713
Overall pass rate77.2%
Passed on first attempt71.4%
Average mileage at test116,161 mi
Model years covered2000–2022 (23 years)
Versus UK national average−3.8 pts below

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Volkswagen Caravelle MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Volkswagen Caravelle, the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Inspection section Share of failures Est. recorded instances
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 34% 6,091
Suspension 27% 4,945
Visibility 15% 2,700
Body, chassis, structure 8% 1,456
Brakes 6% 1,064
Tyres 5% 838
Steering 4% 691
Noise, emissions and leaks 2% 293

Shares are over the Volkswagen Caravelle's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

Around 34% of the recorded Volkswagen Caravelle failures fall in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (7.9%), "Position lamp not working" (1.1%), "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps" (0.6%) among the Volkswagen Caravelle's lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment faults.

Suspension

Around 27% of the recorded Volkswagen Caravelle failures fall in the Suspension section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (3.0%), "Coil spring fractured or broken" (2.0%), "Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn" (1.3%) among the Volkswagen Caravelle's suspension faults.

Visibility

Around 15% of the recorded Volkswagen Caravelle failures fall in the Visibility section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (5.1%), "Wipers blade defective" (0.0%) among the Volkswagen Caravelle's visibility faults.

Top Recorded Volkswagen Caravelle DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Volkswagen Caravelle, each with how many of the model's 52,713 tests it was noted on.

  • "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 4,161 Volkswagen Caravelle tests, 7.9% of the model's MOT record.
  • "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 2,683 Volkswagen Caravelle tests, 5.1% of the model's MOT record.
  • "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 1,596 Volkswagen Caravelle tests, 3.0% of the model's MOT record.
  • "Coil spring fractured or broken" (Major) — noted on about 1,054 Volkswagen Caravelle tests, 2.0% of the model's MOT record.
  • "Joints constant velocity boot severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 982 Volkswagen Caravelle tests, 1.9% of the model's MOT record.
  • "Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 692 Volkswagen Caravelle tests, 1.3% of the model's MOT record.

What Caravelle fails on more than most

1 failure item is recorded at least 1.5 times the UK rate on this model.

Share of this model's own MOT tests that record each item, against the UK rate for the same item
Failure item This model UK × UK Typical fix
Flexible brake hoses excessively deteriorated Brakes 2.6% 0.4% 6.5× £25–£70

Rates are a share of this model's own tests (52,713 for the top row), so a big seller cannot outrank a rare one. The UK figure is the same item's share of every test in our data. Items Caravelle records at or below the UK rate are not listed — this is where it is unusual, not a full inventory. All failure items · parts and costs

Best and Worst Volkswagen Caravelle Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Volkswagen Caravelle model year on record is 2022 (89.5% across 190 tests), and the weakest is 2000 (69.7%). The gap between them is 19.8 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Volkswagen Caravelle reliability is improving in the DVSA data — the pass rate moves about 1.3 points a year across the most recent model years shown above.

Year Tests Pass rate First attempt Avg mileage Most common failure
2022 Caravelle 190 89.5% 88.4% 27,785 mi Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting drive
2021 Caravelle 1,147 86.7% 84.9% 35,035 mi Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough
2020 Caravelle 2,196 87.9% 86.5% 42,170 mi Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting drive
2019 Caravelle 2,375 85.8% 83.7% 46,502 mi Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting drive
2018 Caravelle 2,235 83.7% 80.8% 56,112 mi Coil spring fractured or broken
2017 Caravelle 3,308 82.6% 79.4% 75,836 mi Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting drive
2016 Caravelle 3,570 80.5% 76.2% 81,003 mi Coil spring fractured or broken
2015 Caravelle 2,553 79.9% 75.3% 92,475 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2014 Caravelle 2,220 79.9% 75.2% 85,667 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2013 Caravelle 2,483 80.3% 75.9% 92,160 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2012 Caravelle 2,897 79.9% 75.2% 123,409 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2011 Caravelle 2,448 77.9% 72.1% 115,607 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2010 Caravelle 2,273 76.0% 69.2% 119,942 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2009 Caravelle 1,595 74.0% 65.9% 120,764 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2008 Caravelle 2,241 72.3% 63.1% 144,481 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2007 Caravelle 2,350 72.3% 62.6% 148,383 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2006 Caravelle 2,401 71.2% 61.0% 164,626 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2005 Caravelle 2,679 70.5% 60.4% 166,523 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2004 Caravelle 2,037 71.0% 60.9% 173,032 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2003 Caravelle 2,261 71.1% 61.6% 188,995 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2002 Caravelle 2,711 72.0% 63.4% 189,816 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2001 Caravelle 2,434 72.1% 64.5% 190,561 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2000 Caravelle 2,109 69.7% 60.1% 190,813 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Volkswagen Caravelle Owners

These checks follow this Volkswagen Caravelle's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Volkswagen Caravelle.

  • the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”

    Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

  • the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

    Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

  • the suspension joints — “ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated”

    With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Volkswagen Caravelle. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Volkswagen Caravelle MOT & Reliability

What is the Volkswagen Caravelle MOT pass rate?

77.2% of the 52,713 recorded Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests ended in a pass, −3.8 percentage points below the national average. 71.4% of those passed on the first attempt.

Which Volkswagen Caravelle model years pass the MOT most often?

2022 is the strongest Volkswagen Caravelle year on record at 89.5%, while 2000 is the weakest at 69.7%. The year-by-year table below lists every model year with at least 50 recorded tests.

What are the most common Volkswagen Caravelle MOT failures?

The most recorded Volkswagen Caravelle failures are "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" and "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" — together around 13% of tests, mostly in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section.