Vauxhall Cavalier Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Vauxhall Cavalier car check
Is the Vauxhall Cavalier reliable? We analysed 791,158 real MOT tests across 179,147 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Vauxhall Cavalier? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Vauxhall Cavalier is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Cavalier.
Vauxhall Cavalier Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Cavalier. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Vauxhall Cavalier MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Vauxhall Cavalier to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Vauxhall Cavalier Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Vauxhall Cavalier fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Vauxhall Cavalier Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Cavalier owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Vauxhall Cavalier MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Cavalier year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 60 | 58.3% | 73,662 | 98,040 | 150,601 |
| 1999 | 64 | 60.9% | 45,540 | 102,899 | 123,186 |
| 1998 | 77 | 66.2% | 111,907 | 128,723 | 157,756 |
| 1997 | 188 | 68.6% | 88,319 | 110,578 | 130,439 |
| 1996 | 1,882 | 65.4% | 85,714 | 108,764 | 133,336 |
| 1995 | 220,092 | 64.4% | 90,001 | 112,902 | 139,016 |
| 1994 | 224,399 | 62.8% | 94,997 | 118,174 | 144,230 |
| 1993 | 168,312 | 62.5% | 96,656 | 120,358 | 146,060 |
| 1992 | 68,397 | 60.0% | 85,769 | 110,771 | 135,886 |
| 1991 | 38,214 | 60.5% | 85,392 | 110,792 | 136,072 |
| 1990 | 28,260 | 61.0% | 81,154 | 108,026 | 135,850 |
| 1989 | 16,309 | 62.4% | 75,688 | 104,450 | 131,516 |
| 1988 | 6,389 | 66.0% | 33,282 | 62,661 | 85,757 |
| 1987 | 4,803 | 68.4% | 28,285 | 55,423 | 78,670 |
| 1986 | 4,542 | 70.0% | 31,002 | 53,022 | 75,830 |
| 1985 | 2,109 | 70.6% | 35,995 | 59,630 | 78,235 |
| 1984 | 1,560 | 69.6% | 27,228 | 50,139 | 77,557 |
| 1983 | 1,306 | 72.1% | 34,492 | 53,928 | 74,412 |
| 1982 | 709 | 70.5% | 33,092 | 51,904 | 77,983 |
| 1981 | 371 | 74.4% | 38,854 | 54,474 | 76,085 |
How Long Does a Vauxhall Cavalier Last?
Based on 179,147 Vauxhall Cavalier vehicles on UK roads.
Vauxhall Cavalier Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Cavalier 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 Cavalier
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
79.3% MOT pass rate from 256 tests
58.3% MOT pass rate from 60 tests
The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Cavalier is 1976, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.3% across 256 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Vauxhall Cavalier Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Cavalier THIS CAR | 63.0% | 791,158 | 114,131 mi | 37 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 |
| Ford Grand C-max | 78.1% | 431,851 | 58,670 mi | 15 yrs |
Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Cavalier trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Vauxhall Cavalier 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 CavalierShould you buy a used Vauxhall Cavalier?
The Vauxhall Cavalier has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.0% across 791,158 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Vauxhall Cavalier are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (63,789 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (61,692), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (58,060). 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 Cavalier owner drives around 4,678 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 Cavalier models stay on UK roads for around 37 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.