1981 Volkswagen Motor Caravan — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

47.7%

Latest Pass Rate

553

Total Tests (All Years)

66,653 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 1981 Volkswagen Motor Caravan as it ages.

28 yrs42.6%

→ ↑26.8%

29 yrs69.4%

→ ↓26.3%

30 yrs43.1%

→ ↑12.9%

31 yrs56.0%

→ ↓5.1%

32 yrs50.9%

→ ↓5.4%

33 yrs45.5%

→ ↑17.2%

34 yrs62.7%

→ ↓19.6%

35 yrs43.1%

→ ↑12.2%

36 yrs55.3%

→ ↓10.3%

37 yrs45.0%

→ ↑2.7%

38 yrs47.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	42.6%	54
29 yrs	69.4%	49
30 yrs	43.1%	51
31 yrs	56.0%	50
32 yrs	50.9%	53
33 yrs	45.5%	55
34 yrs	62.7%	59
35 yrs	43.1%	51
36 yrs	55.3%	47
37 yrs	45.0%	40
38 yrs	47.7%	44

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Volkswagen Motor Caravan pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (38 yrs)	47.7%	44
2018 (37 yrs)	45%	40
2017 (36 yrs)	55.3%	47
2016 (35 yrs)	43.1%	51
2015 (34 yrs)	62.7%	59
2014 (33 yrs)	45.5%	55
2013 (32 yrs)	50.9%	53
2012 (31 yrs)	56%	50
2011 (30 yrs)	43.1%	51
2010 (29 yrs)	69.4%	49
2009 (28 yrs)	42.6%	54

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

42.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 54Avg Mileage 60,366Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%

2010

69.4%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 49Avg Mileage 47,627Top Failure Suspension — 24.5%

2011High Fail Rate

43.1%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 51Avg Mileage 54,434Top Failure Suspension — 41.2%

2012High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 50Avg Mileage 55,934Top Failure Brakes — 34.0%

2013High Fail Rate

50.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 53Avg Mileage 63,646Top Failure Suspension — 100.0%

2014High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 55Avg Mileage 57,597Top Failure Suspension — 94.5%

2015High Fail Rate

62.7%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 59Avg Mileage 64,779Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 79.7%

2016High Fail Rate

43.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 51Avg Mileage 63,400Top Failure Suspension — 98.0%

2017High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 47Avg Mileage 71,969Top Failure Brakes — 87.2%

2018High Fail Rate

45.0%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 40Avg Mileage 69,460Top Failure Suspension — 87.5%

2019High Fail Rate

47.7%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 44Avg Mileage 66,653Top Failure Suspension — 100.0%

MOT results for 1981 Volkswagen Motor Caravan by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	42.6%	54	60,366	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%
2010	29	69.4%	49	47,627	Suspension — 24.5%
2011	30	43.1%	51	54,434	Suspension — 41.2%
2012	31	56.0%	50	55,934	Brakes — 34.0%
2013	32	50.9%	53	63,646	Suspension — 100.0%
2014	33	45.5%	55	57,597	Suspension — 94.5%
2015	34	62.7%	59	64,779	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 79.7%
2016	35	43.1%	51	63,400	Suspension — 98.0%
2017	36	55.3%	47	71,969	Brakes — 87.2%
2018	37	45.0%	40	69,460	Suspension — 87.5%
2019	38	47.7%	44	66,653	Suspension — 100.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Volkswagen Motor Caravan, with age trends.

Suspension

69.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

57.5%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

53.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

42.8%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

32.9%

↑ 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
Suspension	33.3% (28 yrs)	100.0% (38 yrs)	+66.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	29.6% (28 yrs)	86.4% (38 yrs)	+56.8%	🔴 ↑

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 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 553 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.