1987 Vauxhall Cavalier — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1987 perform at MOT as they age

39 years

Current Age

72.2%

Latest Pass Rate

1,760

Total Tests (All Years)

61,836 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 1987 Vauxhall Cavalier as it ages.

22 yrs53.8%

→ ↓0.2%

23 yrs53.6%

→ ↓4.5%

24 yrs49.1%

→ ↑13.2%

25 yrs62.3%

→ ↓2.1%

26 yrs60.2%

→ ↑2.8%

27 yrs63.0%

→ ↑4.6%

28 yrs67.6%

→ ↓3.3%

29 yrs64.3%

→ ↑7.3%

30 yrs71.6%

→ ↓6.7%

31 yrs64.9%

→ ↑20.8%

32 yrs85.7%

→ ↓13.5%

33 yrs72.2%

→ ↑3.8%

34 yrs76.0%

→ ↓0.2%

35 yrs75.8%

→ ↑1.0%

36 yrs76.8%

→ ↓4.6%

37 yrs72.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
22 yrs	53.8%	223
23 yrs	53.6%	181
24 yrs	49.1%	163
25 yrs	62.3%	146
26 yrs	60.2%	123
27 yrs	63.0%	108
28 yrs	67.6%	102
29 yrs	64.3%	84
30 yrs	71.6%	88
31 yrs	64.9%	57
32 yrs	85.7%	70
33 yrs	72.2%	54
34 yrs	76.0%	75
35 yrs	75.8%	66
36 yrs	76.8%	69
37 yrs	72.2%	151

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1987 Vauxhall Cavalier pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (37 yrs)	72.2%	151
2023 (36 yrs)	76.8%	69
2022 (35 yrs)	75.8%	66
2021 (34 yrs)	76%	75
2020 (33 yrs)	72.2%	54
2019 (32 yrs)	85.7%	70
2018 (31 yrs)	64.9%	57
2017 (30 yrs)	71.6%	88
2016 (29 yrs)	64.3%	84
2015 (28 yrs)	67.6%	102
2014 (27 yrs)	63%	108
2013 (26 yrs)	60.2%	123
2012 (25 yrs)	62.3%	146
2011 (24 yrs)	49.1%	163
2010 (23 yrs)	53.6%	181
2009 (22 yrs)	53.8%	223

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 223Avg Mileage 57,489Top Failure Suspension — 30.9%

2010High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 181Avg Mileage 56,290Top Failure Suspension — 27.6%

2011High Fail Rate

49.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 163Avg Mileage 54,436Top Failure Suspension — 31.9%

2012High Fail Rate

62.3%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 146Avg Mileage 53,014Top Failure Suspension — 22.6%

2013High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 123Avg Mileage 54,465Top Failure Suspension — 65.0%

2014High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 108Avg Mileage 56,566Top Failure Suspension — 58.3%

2015

67.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 102Avg Mileage 56,123Top Failure Suspension — 55.9%

2016High Fail Rate

64.3%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 84Avg Mileage 50,218Top Failure Brakes — 60.7%

2017

71.6%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 88Avg Mileage 54,305Top Failure Suspension — 38.6%

2018High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 57Avg Mileage 54,724Top Failure Brakes — 40.4%

2019

85.7%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 70Avg Mileage 57,779Top Failure Brakes — 15.7%

2020

72.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 54Avg Mileage 56,082Top Failure Brakes — 48.1%

2021

76.0%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 75Avg Mileage 54,836Top Failure Brakes — 21.3%

2022

75.8%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 66Avg Mileage 64,460Top Failure Brakes — 22.7%

2023

76.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 69Avg Mileage 59,122Top Failure Body, chassis, structure — 29.0%

2024

72.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 151Avg Mileage 61,836Top Failure Brakes — 17.2%

MOT results for 1987 Vauxhall Cavalier by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	22	53.8%	223	57,489	Suspension — 30.9%
2010	23	53.6%	181	56,290	Suspension — 27.6%
2011	24	49.1%	163	54,436	Suspension — 31.9%
2012	25	62.3%	146	53,014	Suspension — 22.6%
2013	26	60.2%	123	54,465	Suspension — 65.0%
2014	27	63.0%	108	56,566	Suspension — 58.3%
2015	28	67.6%	102	56,123	Suspension — 55.9%
2016	29	64.3%	84	50,218	Brakes — 60.7%
2017	30	71.6%	88	54,305	Suspension — 38.6%
2018	31	64.9%	57	54,724	Brakes — 40.4%
2019	32	85.7%	70	57,779	Brakes — 15.7%
2020	33	72.2%	54	56,082	Brakes — 48.1%
2021	34	76.0%	75	54,836	Brakes — 21.3%
2022	35	75.8%	66	64,460	Brakes — 22.7%
2023	36	76.8%	69	59,122	Body, chassis, structure — 29.0%
2024	37	72.2%	151	61,836	Brakes — 17.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1987 Vauxhall Cavalier, with age trends.

Suspension

33.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

28.9%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

25.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

18.5%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

17.9%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	30.9% (22 yrs)	14.6% (37 yrs)	-16.3%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	16.1% (22 yrs)	17.2% (37 yrs)	+1.1%	⚪ —

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 1987 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,760 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.