1971 Volkswagen Caravelle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

66.7%

Latest Pass Rate

353

Total Tests (All Years)

73,708 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 1971 Volkswagen Caravelle as it ages.

38 yrs50.0%

→ ↑6.4%

39 yrs56.4%

→ ↓0.8%

40 yrs55.6%

→ ↓8.1%

41 yrs47.5%

→ ↓1.3%

42 yrs46.2%

→ ↑7.6%

43 yrs53.8%

→ ↑3.7%

44 yrs57.5%

→ ↑8.3%

45 yrs65.8%

→ ↑0.9%

46 yrs66.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	50.0%	40
39 yrs	56.4%	39
40 yrs	55.6%	45
41 yrs	47.5%	40
42 yrs	46.2%	39
43 yrs	53.8%	39
44 yrs	57.5%	40
45 yrs	65.8%	38
46 yrs	66.7%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 Volkswagen Caravelle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (46 yrs)	66.7%	33
2016 (45 yrs)	65.8%	38
2015 (44 yrs)	57.5%	40
2014 (43 yrs)	53.8%	39
2013 (42 yrs)	46.2%	39
2012 (41 yrs)	47.5%	40
2011 (40 yrs)	55.6%	45
2010 (39 yrs)	56.4%	39
2009 (38 yrs)	50%	40

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 40Avg Mileage 73,942Top Failure Brakes — 32.5%

2010High Fail Rate

56.4%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 39Avg Mileage 69,184Top Failure Brakes — 35.9%

2011High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 45Avg Mileage 67,275Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.1%

2012High Fail Rate

47.5%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 40Avg Mileage 70,726Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.0%

2013High Fail Rate

46.2%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 39Avg Mileage 71,557Top Failure Suspension — 97.4%

2014High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 39Avg Mileage 71,793Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 76.9%

2015High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 40Avg Mileage 77,196Top Failure Suspension — 77.5%

2016

65.8%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 38Avg Mileage 71,654Top Failure Body, Structure and General Items — 44.7%

2017

66.7%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 33Avg Mileage 73,708Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.6%

MOT results for 1971 Volkswagen Caravelle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	50.0%	40	73,942	Brakes — 32.5%
2010	39	56.4%	39	69,184	Brakes — 35.9%
2011	40	55.6%	45	67,275	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.1%
2012	41	47.5%	40	70,726	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.0%
2013	42	46.2%	39	71,557	Suspension — 97.4%
2014	43	53.8%	39	71,793	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 76.9%
2015	44	57.5%	40	77,196	Suspension — 77.5%
2016	45	65.8%	38	71,654	Body, Structure and General Items — 44.7%
2017	46	66.7%	33	73,708	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 Volkswagen Caravelle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

50.6%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

43.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

37.8%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

35.5%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

22.6%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	30.0% (38 yrs)	57.6% (46 yrs)	+27.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	22.5% (38 yrs)	42.4% (46 yrs)	+19.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	32.5% (38 yrs)	42.4% (46 yrs)	+9.9%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	20.0% (38 yrs)	15.2% (46 yrs)	-4.8%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volkswagen Caravelle page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Caravelle cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 353 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.