Volkswagen Caravelle reliability: MOT pass rate and common faults
Volkswagen Caravelle cars first used in 2016 had an MOT pass rate below the average for their age.
The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.
First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 68.9% to 74.4%.
In 2025, 71.8% of the 1,016 initial MOT tests on Volkswagen Caravelle cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 74.9%. That is 3.1 points below the same-age average.
Check a specific Caravelle
Volkswagen Caravelle MOT pass rate by year
| Year | Chart | Testsmedian miles | Passed first time | Against all vehicles that year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016age 9 | 1,01678,900 | 71.8%±2.9 | −3.1 ptsall: 74.9% |
Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.
When a car's mileage doesn't add upCommon Caravelle problems at the MOT
MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems.
What to check when viewing a Caravelle
Suspension
- Push down hard on each corner. Check the car rises once and settles, not bouncing again and again.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- Check the car sits level when parked on flat ground.
Tyres
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Brakes
- On a clear road, brake firmly and check the car stops in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.
Check a Caravelle's MOT historyAfter an MOT advisory
Tyres
Of Volkswagen Caravelle cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a tyre advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 9.5% failed on tyres, against 4.8% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 1,465 and 5,667 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 12.8% of those with a tyre advisory and 14.2% of the others.
Brakes
Of Volkswagen Caravelle cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a brake advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 13.0% failed on brakes, against 8.3% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 1,374 and 5,686 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 15.2% of those with a brake advisory and 13.6% of the others.
Suspension
Of Volkswagen Caravelle cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a suspension advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 17.3% failed on suspension, against 10.5% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 1,153 and 5,564 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 15.6% of those with a suspension advisory and 13.5% of the others.
Similar cars are the same model, first-use year and mileage band. Areas are the DVSA's top-level groups, so the later fail may not be the fault that was advised. These figures describe what happened to these cars. They don't show what a repair would have changed.
How we worked this outAll models compared, with the dataVolkswagen Caravelle questions
Is the Volkswagen Caravelle reliable?
MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 71.8% of initial MOT tests on Volkswagen Caravelle cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 74.9%. That is 3.1 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.
What are the most common Volkswagen Caravelle problems at the MOT?
The most common failure areas are suspension (in 43.2% of failed tests), tyres (in 25.1% of failed tests) and brakes (in 23.0% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.
What mileage is normal for a 9-year-old Volkswagen Caravelle?
At their 2025 MOT tests, Volkswagen Caravelle cars first used in 2016, about 9 years old, had a median of 78,900 miles. Half had more and half had less.
How do I check a specific Caravelle's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.
Check a car's MOT history for freeWhat MOT data can't tell you about any Volkswagen Caravelle
Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.
Compare history checksWhat MOT history doesn't showOther Volkswagen models
- Volkswagen Golf+4.8 pts against the same-age average
- Volkswagen Polo−3.1 pts against the same-age average
- Volkswagen Transporter−1.9 pts against the same-age average
- Volkswagen Tiguan+4.0 pts against the same-age average
- Volkswagen Passat+2.7 pts against the same-age average
- Volkswagen Caddy−2.5 pts against the same-age average
Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.
All 30 Volkswagen modelsCars ranked by MOT pass rate, by ageSource: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Volkswagen Caravelle cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count