1986 Vauxhall Cavalier — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1986 perform at MOT as they age

40 years

Current Age

71.9%

Latest Pass Rate

1,834

Total Tests (All Years)

54,370 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier as it ages.

23 yrs58.1%

→ ↑1.4%

24 yrs59.5%

→ ↓6.1%

25 yrs53.4%

→ ↓1.9%

26 yrs51.5%

→ ↑12.3%

27 yrs63.8%

→ ↓5.5%

28 yrs58.3%

→ ↑4.7%

29 yrs63.0%

→ ↑7.1%

30 yrs70.1%

→ ↑3.7%

31 yrs73.8%

→ ↑6.5%

32 yrs80.3%

→ ↓7.3%

33 yrs73.0%

→ ↓3.2%

34 yrs69.8%

→ ↑3.8%

35 yrs73.6%

→ ↑5.5%

36 yrs79.1%

→ ↓8.0%

37 yrs71.1%

→ ↑0.8%

38 yrs71.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
23 yrs	58.1%	203
24 yrs	59.5%	173
25 yrs	53.4%	163
26 yrs	51.5%	132
27 yrs	63.8%	127
28 yrs	58.3%	120
29 yrs	63.0%	119
30 yrs	70.1%	97
31 yrs	73.8%	103
32 yrs	80.3%	66
33 yrs	73.0%	63
34 yrs	69.8%	53
35 yrs	73.6%	87
36 yrs	79.1%	67
37 yrs	71.1%	83
38 yrs	71.9%	178

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (38 yrs)	71.9%	178
2023 (37 yrs)	71.1%	83
2022 (36 yrs)	79.1%	67
2021 (35 yrs)	73.6%	87
2020 (34 yrs)	69.8%	53
2019 (33 yrs)	73%	63
2018 (32 yrs)	80.3%	66
2017 (31 yrs)	73.8%	103
2016 (30 yrs)	70.1%	97
2015 (29 yrs)	63%	119
2014 (28 yrs)	58.3%	120
2013 (27 yrs)	63.8%	127
2012 (26 yrs)	51.5%	132
2011 (25 yrs)	53.4%	163
2010 (24 yrs)	59.5%	173
2009 (23 yrs)	58.1%	203

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 203Avg Mileage 53,039Top Failure Suspension — 24.6%

2010High Fail Rate

59.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 173Avg Mileage 50,921Top Failure Suspension — 28.3%

2011High Fail Rate

53.4%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 163Avg Mileage 59,798Top Failure Brakes — 23.3%

2012High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 132Avg Mileage 56,677Top Failure Suspension — 32.6%

2013High Fail Rate

63.8%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 127Avg Mileage 54,675Top Failure Suspension — 40.2%

2014High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 120Avg Mileage 55,954Top Failure Brakes — 45.8%

2015High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 119Avg Mileage 55,604Top Failure Suspension — 59.7%

2016

70.1%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 97Avg Mileage 50,015Top Failure Brakes — 51.5%

2017

73.8%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 103Avg Mileage 50,219Top Failure Suspension — 35.0%

2018

80.3%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 66Avg Mileage 63,635Top Failure Suspension — 16.7%

2019

73.0%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 63Avg Mileage 51,429Top Failure Suspension — 25.4%

2020

69.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 53Avg Mileage 49,107Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 34.0%

2021

73.6%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 87Avg Mileage 53,204Top Failure Brakes — 48.3%

2022

79.1%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 67Avg Mileage 55,308Top Failure Brakes — 35.8%

2023

71.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 83Avg Mileage 55,227Top Failure Brakes — 41.0%

2024

71.9%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 178Avg Mileage 54,370Top Failure Brakes — 16.9%

MOT results for 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	23	58.1%	203	53,039	Suspension — 24.6%
2010	24	59.5%	173	50,921	Suspension — 28.3%
2011	25	53.4%	163	59,798	Brakes — 23.3%
2012	26	51.5%	132	56,677	Suspension — 32.6%
2013	27	63.8%	127	54,675	Suspension — 40.2%
2014	28	58.3%	120	55,954	Brakes — 45.8%
2015	29	63.0%	119	55,604	Suspension — 59.7%
2016	30	70.1%	97	50,015	Brakes — 51.5%
2017	31	73.8%	103	50,219	Suspension — 35.0%
2018	32	80.3%	66	63,635	Suspension — 16.7%
2019	33	73.0%	63	51,429	Suspension — 25.4%
2020	34	69.8%	53	49,107	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 34.0%
2021	35	73.6%	87	53,204	Brakes — 48.3%
2022	36	79.1%	67	55,308	Brakes — 35.8%
2023	37	71.1%	83	55,227	Brakes — 41.0%
2024	38	71.9%	178	54,370	Brakes — 16.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier, with age trends.

Suspension

29.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

29.5%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

24.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

20.2%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

20.1%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	24.6% (23 yrs)	16.9% (38 yrs)	-7.7%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	18.7% (23 yrs)	16.9% (38 yrs)	-1.8%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Vauxhall Cavalier page →

About This Data

This page shows how Vauxhall Cavalier cars manufactured in 1986 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,834 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.