Vauxhall Carlton Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Vauxhall Carlton car check
Is the Vauxhall Carlton reliable? We analysed 54,357 real MOT tests across 13,540 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Vauxhall Carlton? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Vauxhall Carlton is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Carlton.
Vauxhall Carlton Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Carlton. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Vauxhall Carlton MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Vauxhall Carlton to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Vauxhall Carlton Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Vauxhall Carlton fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Vauxhall Carlton Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Carlton owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Vauxhall Carlton MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Carlton year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 50 | 74.0% | 44,735 | 54,800 | 62,787 |
| 1995 | 58 | 65.5% | 108,890 | 138,564 | 145,872 |
| 1994 | 4,906 | 67.8% | 86,628 | 114,135 | 140,996 |
| 1993 | 19,830 | 66.4% | 100,001 | 126,278 | 152,464 |
| 1992 | 11,324 | 64.7% | 95,420 | 121,072 | 145,852 |
| 1991 | 5,608 | 65.5% | 83,950 | 112,261 | 138,887 |
| 1990 | 3,995 | 63.6% | 91,532 | 118,276 | 142,778 |
| 1989 | 3,354 | 65.1% | 91,533 | 119,224 | 147,423 |
| 1988 | 2,486 | 63.9% | 80,783 | 109,428 | 137,536 |
| 1987 | 1,039 | 64.9% | 76,488 | 99,163 | 127,075 |
| 1986 | 509 | 71.9% | 26,864 | 47,604 | 72,766 |
| 1985 | 365 | 70.7% | 31,038 | 50,305 | 75,268 |
| 1984 | 312 | 76.6% | 27,767 | 56,661 | 83,130 |
| 1983 | 255 | 76.1% | 46,254 | 63,965 | 75,700 |
How Long Does a Vauxhall Carlton Last?
Based on 13,540 Vauxhall Carlton vehicles on UK roads.
Vauxhall Carlton Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Carlton MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Carlton
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
76.6% MOT pass rate from 312 tests
63.6% MOT pass rate from 3,995 tests
The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Carlton is 1984, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 76.6% across 312 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Vauxhall Carlton Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Carlton THIS CAR | 65.9% | 54,357 | 118,870 mi | 39 yrs |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 69.7% | 26,893,546 | 58,908 mi | 33 yrs |
| Vauxhall Astra | 71.9% | 25,288,868 | 76,280 mi | 34 yrs |
| Vauxhall Zafira | 71.9% | 8,488,627 | 75,062 mi | 27 yrs |
| Yamaha Mt | 87.9% | 94,115 | 10,848 mi | 12 yrs |
Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Carlton trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Vauxhall Carlton you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Vauxhall CarltonShould you buy a used Vauxhall Carlton?
The Vauxhall Carlton has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.9% across 54,357 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Vauxhall Carlton are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (6,210 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4,170), and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (3,743). 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 Vauxhall Carlton owner drives around 3,000 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 Vauxhall Carlton models stay on UK roads for around 39 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.