1978 Volkswagen Motor Caravan — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

50.0%

Latest Pass Rate

1,282

Total Tests (All Years)

51,061 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 1978 Volkswagen Motor Caravan as it ages.

31 yrs43.8%

→ ↑4.7%

32 yrs48.5%

→ ↑0.7%

33 yrs49.2%

→ ↓0.8%

34 yrs48.4%

→ ↓2.9%

35 yrs45.5%

→ ↓5.2%

36 yrs40.3%

→ ↑9.7%

37 yrs50.0%

→ ↑10.0%

38 yrs60.0%

→ ↓1.7%

39 yrs58.3%

→ ↓12.4%

40 yrs45.9%

→ ↑4.1%

41 yrs50.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	43.8%	128
32 yrs	48.5%	132
33 yrs	49.2%	128
34 yrs	48.4%	126
35 yrs	45.5%	121
36 yrs	40.3%	124
37 yrs	50.0%	130
38 yrs	60.0%	130
39 yrs	58.3%	132
40 yrs	45.9%	85
41 yrs	50.0%	46

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 Volkswagen Motor Caravan pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (41 yrs)	50%	46
2018 (40 yrs)	45.9%	85
2017 (39 yrs)	58.3%	132
2016 (38 yrs)	60%	130
2015 (37 yrs)	50%	130
2014 (36 yrs)	40.3%	124
2013 (35 yrs)	45.5%	121
2012 (34 yrs)	48.4%	126
2011 (33 yrs)	49.2%	128
2010 (32 yrs)	48.5%	132
2009 (31 yrs)	43.8%	128

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

43.8%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 128Avg Mileage 55,776Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.6%

2010High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 132Avg Mileage 51,077Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.4%

2011High Fail Rate

49.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 128Avg Mileage 57,452Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.3%

2012High Fail Rate

48.4%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 126Avg Mileage 53,688Top Failure Suspension — 31.7%

2013High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 121Avg Mileage 53,867Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.5%

2014High Fail Rate

40.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 124Avg Mileage 55,931Top Failure Suspension — 71.8%

2015High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 130Avg Mileage 53,011Top Failure Suspension — 70.8%

2016High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 130Avg Mileage 56,365Top Failure Suspension — 56.2%

2017High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 132Avg Mileage 49,503Top Failure Brakes — 60.6%

2018High Fail Rate

45.9%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 85Avg Mileage 54,056Top Failure Brakes — 77.6%

2019High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 46Avg Mileage 51,061Top Failure Brakes — 50.0%

MOT results for 1978 Volkswagen Motor Caravan by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	43.8%	128	55,776	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.6%
2010	32	48.5%	132	51,077	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.4%
2011	33	49.2%	128	57,452	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.3%
2012	34	48.4%	126	53,688	Suspension — 31.7%
2013	35	45.5%	121	53,867	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.5%
2014	36	40.3%	124	55,931	Suspension — 71.8%
2015	37	50.0%	130	53,011	Suspension — 70.8%
2016	38	60.0%	130	56,365	Suspension — 56.2%
2017	39	58.3%	132	49,503	Brakes — 60.6%
2018	40	45.9%	85	54,056	Brakes — 77.6%
2019	41	50.0%	46	51,061	Brakes — 50.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Volkswagen Motor Caravan, with age trends.

Suspension

50.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

49.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

48.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

45.7%

↑ Increases with age

Visibility

34.8%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	24.2% (31 yrs)	50.0% (41 yrs)	+25.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	28.1% (31 yrs)	50.0% (41 yrs)	+21.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Motor Caravan cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 1,282 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.