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Ford Motor Caravan Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford Motor Caravan car check

Is the Ford Motor Caravan reliable? We analysed 4,518 real MOT tests across 313 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 4,518 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
75.3%
Typical Mileage
52,276mi
Annual Mileage
2,130mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
47yrs

The Ford Motor Caravan is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Motor Caravan.

Ford Motor Caravan Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ford Motor Caravan. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ford Motor Caravan MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ford Motor Caravan to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

70.8%
2013
74.3%
2012
84.8%
2011
86.2%
2010
81%
2009
82.6%
2008
80.3%
2007
73%
2006
73.3%
2005
71.7%
2004
79.8%
2003
69.9%
2001
77.8%
2000
79.8%
1999
76.9%
1998
67.9%
1997
72.9%
1996
73.9%
1995
72.9%
1994
75.8%
1993

Ford Motor Caravan Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ford Motor Caravan fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 84
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 72
position lamp(s) not working 71
Registration plate lamp not working 65
fog lamp not working 59
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 57
Stop lamp not working 51
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 49
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 47
Brake pipe excessively corroded 40

Ford Motor Caravan Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ford Motor Caravan owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
931 mi/yr
Typical
2,130 mi/yr
Average
3,363 mi/yr
Heavy usage
4,065 mi/yr

Ford Motor Caravan MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Motor Caravan year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 65 70.8% 96,922 141,438 176,351
2012 191 74.3% 35,912 72,354 96,550
2011 125 84.8% 20,128 27,099 51,239
2010 189 86.2% 19,170 30,903 45,839
2009 232 81.0% 21,862 32,478 44,988
2008 419 82.6% 20,008 37,772 58,206
2007 458 80.3% 19,676 33,203 56,484
2006 352 73.0% 29,564 52,502 82,010
2005 424 73.3% 29,419 62,321 130,911
2004 230 71.7% 31,815 66,599 123,611
2003 119 79.8% 19,475 31,640 73,837
2001 103 69.9% 76,020 102,635 125,960
2000 108 77.8% 24,579 48,882 79,006
1999 89 79.8% 39,535 47,027 64,731
1998 65 76.9% 49,344 59,555 69,151
1997 84 67.9% 65,408 88,040 105,642
1996 70 72.9% 43,217 72,794 131,023
1995 142 73.9% 57,979 81,890 96,079
1994 192 72.9% 51,886 67,015 84,882
1993 91 75.8% 44,202 56,288 126,365

How Long Does a Ford Motor Caravan Last?

Based on 313 Ford Motor Caravan vehicles on UK roads.

Average
20.3 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
47 years

Ford Motor Caravan Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ford Motor Caravan MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
52,276 mi
75th Percentile
86,842 mi
95th Percentile
165,827 mi
Max Recorded
932,176 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Motor Caravan

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2010

86.2% MOT pass rate from 189 tests

Year to avoid
1980

62.5% MOT pass rate from 88 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford Motor Caravan is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.2% across 189 tests. The 1980 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford Motor Caravan Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Motor Caravan THIS CAR 75.3% 4,518 52,276 mi 47 yrs
Ford Fiesta 72.8% 33,753,820 57,529 mi 34 yrs
Ford Focus 73.8% 28,316,889 72,500 mi 27 yrs
Ford Transit 68.7% 16,371,688 100,614 mi 37 yrs
Iveco-ford Daily 68.3% 5,752 148,938 mi 37 yrs

Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Motor Caravan outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ford Motor Caravan?

The Ford Motor Caravan has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.3% across 4,518 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Ford Motor Caravan are windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (84 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (72), and position lamp(s) not working (71). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Ford Motor Caravan owner drives around 2,130 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Ford Motor Caravan models stay on UK roads for around 47 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Ford Motor Caravan — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Motor Caravan reliable?
Based on 4,518 MOT tests, the Ford Motor Caravan has a 75.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ford Motor Caravan?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ford Motor Caravan do per year?
The typical Ford Motor Caravan does around 2,130 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Motor Caravan last?
Most Ford Motor Caravan models stay on UK roads for around 47 years based on our analysis of 313 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Motor Caravan?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Ford Motor Caravan?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford Motor Caravan is 2010 with a 86.2% pass rate across 189 tests.