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Volkswagen Motor Caravan Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Motor Caravan car check

Is the Volkswagen Motor Caravan reliable? We analysed 109,687 real MOT tests across 8,425 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 109,687 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
67.5%
Typical Mileage
53,634mi
Annual Mileage
1,075mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
56yrs

The Volkswagen Motor Caravan is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Motor Caravan.

Volkswagen Motor Caravan Number Plates

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

Volkswagen Motor Caravan MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.5%
2021
83%
2020
81.3%
2019
82.1%
2018
83.6%
2017
79.4%
2016
81.3%
2015
79%
2014
75.4%
2013
75.6%
2012
71.4%
2011
75.2%
2010
73.6%
2009
69.2%
2008
71%
2007
70.5%
2006
70.5%
2005
65.5%
2004
72.9%
2003
71.6%
2002

Volkswagen Motor Caravan Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 8,888
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 8,044
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 4,769
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 4,156
position lamp(s) not working 3,700
Stop lamp not working 3,474
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 3,155
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 3,131
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 3,017
parking brake recording little or no effort 2,708

Volkswagen Motor Caravan Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volkswagen 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
406 mi/yr
Typical
1,075 mi/yr
Average
2,135 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,268 mi/yr

Volkswagen Motor Caravan MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 78 88.5% 26,232 43,092 75,868
2020 94 83.0% 42,755 57,116 76,731
2019 75 81.3% 39,163 48,675 86,836
2018 195 82.1% 25,890 47,563 79,650
2017 269 83.6% 28,608 50,757 72,857
2016 214 79.4% 39,765 67,122 89,262
2015 379 81.3% 30,810 53,474 87,234
2014 428 79.0% 17,546 35,526 62,401
2013 422 75.4% 39,388 68,153 105,436
2012 656 75.6% 26,103 45,968 71,861
2011 815 71.4% 35,743 68,667 104,690
2010 901 75.2% 29,216 56,039 80,663
2009 545 73.6% 30,599 54,197 84,847
2008 956 69.2% 28,569 60,228 97,175
2007 991 71.0% 37,812 59,626 89,142
2006 914 70.5% 38,785 73,232 111,031
2005 1,043 70.5% 31,362 54,556 92,185
2004 740 65.5% 36,942 74,120 114,771
2003 376 72.9% 47,777 89,646 141,096
2002 444 71.6% 48,145 75,824 99,185

How Long Does a Volkswagen Motor Caravan Last?

Based on 8,425 Volkswagen Motor Caravan vehicles on UK roads.

Average
39.1 years
Median
42.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
56 years

Volkswagen Motor Caravan Mileage Distribution

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

Median
53,634 mi
75th Percentile
81,869 mi
95th Percentile
154,307 mi
Max Recorded
995,780 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Motor Caravan

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

Best year
2021

88.5% MOT pass rate from 78 tests

Year to avoid
1984

62.0% MOT pass rate from 682 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Motor Caravan is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.5% across 78 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volkswagen Motor Caravan Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Motor Caravan THIS CAR 67.5% 109,687 53,634 mi 56 yrs
Volkswagen Golf 74.9% 22,270,993 83,305 mi 37 yrs
Volkswagen Polo 72.9% 14,598,296 60,351 mi 35 yrs
Volkswagen Passat 73.5% 6,960,690 105,632 mi 32 yrs
Smart Fortwo Passion Mhd Auto 79.4% 44,035 38,367 mi 18 yrs

Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Motor Caravan trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Volkswagen Motor Caravan 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.

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Motor Caravan?

The Volkswagen Motor Caravan has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.5% across 109,687 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Volkswagen Motor Caravan are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8,888 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (8,044), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (4,769). 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 Volkswagen Motor Caravan owner drives around 1,075 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 Volkswagen Motor Caravan models stay on UK roads for around 56 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.

Volkswagen Motor Caravan — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Motor Caravan reliable?
Based on 109,687 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Motor Caravan has a 67.5% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Motor Caravan?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Motor Caravan do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Motor Caravan does around 1,075 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Motor Caravan last?
Most Volkswagen Motor Caravan models stay on UK roads for around 56 years based on our analysis of 8,425 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen Motor Caravan?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Motor Caravan is 2021 with a 88.5% pass rate across 78 tests.