1971 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

66.7%

Latest Pass Rate

813

Total Tests (All Years)

52,156 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 Karmann Ghia as it ages.

38 yrs58.9%

→ ↑9.3%

39 yrs68.2%

→ ↑2.0%

40 yrs70.2%

→ ↑0.7%

41 yrs70.9%

→ ↓9.2%

42 yrs61.7%

→ ↑3.8%

43 yrs65.5%

→ ↑8.8%

44 yrs74.3%

→ ↓9.7%

45 yrs64.6%

→ ↑3.8%

46 yrs68.4%

→ ↓1.7%

47 yrs66.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	58.9%	90
39 yrs	68.2%	88
40 yrs	70.2%	84
41 yrs	70.9%	86
42 yrs	61.7%	94
43 yrs	65.5%	87
44 yrs	74.3%	74
45 yrs	64.6%	82
46 yrs	68.4%	95
47 yrs	66.7%	33

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (47 yrs)	66.7%	33
2017 (46 yrs)	68.4%	95
2016 (45 yrs)	64.6%	82
2015 (44 yrs)	74.3%	74
2014 (43 yrs)	65.5%	87
2013 (42 yrs)	61.7%	94
2012 (41 yrs)	70.9%	86
2011 (40 yrs)	70.2%	84
2010 (39 yrs)	68.2%	88
2009 (38 yrs)	58.9%	90

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 90Avg Mileage 55,910Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.1%

2010

68.2%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 88Avg Mileage 53,154Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.7%

2011

70.2%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 84Avg Mileage 47,653Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%

2012

70.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 86Avg Mileage 52,030Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.9%

2013High Fail Rate

61.7%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 94Avg Mileage 46,566Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.5%

2014

65.5%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 87Avg Mileage 51,837Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.5%

2015

74.3%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 74Avg Mileage 51,440Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.5%

2016High Fail Rate

64.6%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 82Avg Mileage 55,626Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.7%

2017

68.4%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 95Avg Mileage 49,690Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.7%

2018

66.7%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 33Avg Mileage 52,156Top Failure Brakes — 63.6%

MOT results for 1971 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	58.9%	90	55,910	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.1%
2010	39	68.2%	88	53,154	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.7%
2011	40	70.2%	84	47,653	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%
2012	41	70.9%	86	52,030	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.9%
2013	42	61.7%	94	46,566	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.5%
2014	43	65.5%	87	51,837	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.5%
2015	44	74.3%	74	51,440	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.5%
2016	45	64.6%	82	55,626	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.7%
2017	46	68.4%	95	49,690	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.7%
2018	47	66.7%	33	52,156	Brakes — 63.6%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

42.4%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

40.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

26.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

23.8%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

15.5%

↓ 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
Brakes	14.4% (38 yrs)	63.6% (47 yrs)	+49.2%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	22.2% (38 yrs)	36.4% (47 yrs)	+14.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972

← Back to Volkswagen Karmann Ghia overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Karmann Ghia cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 813 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.