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Volkswagen Motorcaravan Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Motorcaravan car check

Is the Volkswagen Motorcaravan reliable? We analysed 2,605 real MOT tests across 169 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,605 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.7%
Typical Mileage
64,802mi
Annual Mileage
1,353mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
55yrs

The Volkswagen Motorcaravan is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Motorcaravan.

Volkswagen Motorcaravan Number Plates

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

Volkswagen Motorcaravan MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

79.5%
2012
76.3%
2008
76.9%
2006
61.5%
2002
72.7%
2000
80%
1998
73.8%
1997
71.1%
1996
74.8%
1995
72.7%
1990
69.2%
1989
64%
1984
67.1%
1982
58.6%
1981
60.8%
1980
63%
1979
67.9%
1978
68.3%
1976
67.4%
1973
64.9%
1972

Volkswagen Motorcaravan Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 113
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 96
Stop lamp not working 90
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 79
position lamp(s) not working 63
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 59
Headlamp aim too low 53
Horn not working 51
Brake pipe excessively corroded 51
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 50

Volkswagen Motorcaravan Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
612 mi/yr
Typical
1,353 mi/yr
Average
2,643 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,925 mi/yr

Volkswagen Motorcaravan MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 73 79.5% 20,545 26,882 44,853
2008 80 76.3% 16,575 32,622 55,164
2006 121 76.9% 17,134 43,225 74,102
2002 65 61.5% 142,807 177,525 209,241
2000 55 72.7% 55,498 67,518 88,638
1998 65 80.0% 53,694 61,497 78,319
1997 84 73.8% 81,460 99,848 127,931
1996 76 71.1% 99,217 135,580 189,008
1995 115 74.8% 68,752 89,948 169,739
1990 66 72.7% 68,709 180,922 213,900
1989 130 69.2% 91,470 143,136 242,708
1984 86 64.0% 25,043 69,537 107,026
1982 82 67.1% 8,398 27,186 77,608
1981 99 58.6% 38,202 52,261 69,096
1980 51 60.8% 9,376 53,292 87,190
1979 119 63.0% 15,711 29,908 63,346
1978 112 67.9% 12,590 40,784 70,652
1976 82 68.3% 30,008 40,919 83,933
1973 89 67.4% 42,072 56,485 64,850
1972 94 64.9% 14,117 24,128 57,248

How Long Does a Volkswagen Motorcaravan Last?

Based on 169 Volkswagen Motorcaravan vehicles on UK roads.

Average
32.2 years
Median
35.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
55 years

Volkswagen Motorcaravan Mileage Distribution

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

Median
64,802 mi
75th Percentile
97,381 mi
95th Percentile
249,066 mi
Max Recorded
918,623 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Motorcaravan

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

Best year
1998

80.0% MOT pass rate from 65 tests

Year to avoid
1981

58.6% MOT pass rate from 99 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Motorcaravan is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.0% across 65 tests. The 1981 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volkswagen Motorcaravan Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Motorcaravan THIS CAR 69.7% 2,605 64,802 mi 55 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
Citroen C4 Picasso 7 Vtr+ HDI 74.1% 868 119,435 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Motorcaravan?

The Volkswagen Motorcaravan has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.7% across 2,605 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Volkswagen Motorcaravan are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (113 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (96), and stop lamp not working (90). 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 Motorcaravan owner drives around 1,353 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 Motorcaravan models stay on UK roads for around 55 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 Motorcaravan — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Motorcaravan reliable?
Based on 2,605 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Motorcaravan has a 69.7% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Motorcaravan?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Motorcaravan do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Motorcaravan does around 1,353 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Motorcaravan last?
Most Volkswagen Motorcaravan models stay on UK roads for around 55 years based on our analysis of 169 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Motorcaravan?
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 Motorcaravan?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Motorcaravan is 1998 with a 80.0% pass rate across 65 tests.