CarVerify

Free Car Check

C538 XBA

1986 Volkswagen Lt

Beige Diesel 2384cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 May 2027
Tests28 (17 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate60.7%

Mileage

289,212 mi
Last recorded289,212 miles
Recorded on8 May 2026
Typical for 1986 Volkswagen Lt73,107 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationC538 XBA
MakeVolkswagen
ModelLt
Year1986
ColourBeige
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,384cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

17 pass 11 fail
Pass 8 May 2026 289,212 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 9 May 2025 283,830 miles
Pass 3 May 2024 279,468 miles
Pass 13 Apr 2023 275,373 miles
Pass 9 Feb 2022 267,239 miles
Fail 4 Feb 2022 267,238 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine (8.2.2.2 (b))

Nearside Front Axle king pin is loose in the axle beam (5.1.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 12 Jun 2019 263,855 miles
Fail 12 Jun 2019 263,855 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 21 Jun 2018 258,557 miles
Fail 12 Jun 2018 258,543 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 28 Apr 2017 252,658 miles
Fail 13 Apr 2017 252,578 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Offside Rear Leaf spring saddle is moving relative to the spring (2.4.B.7a)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear Brake load sensing valve linkage seized (3.6.E.3)

Pass 8 Apr 2016 249,164 miles
Fail 5 Apr 2016 249,164 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Fail 8 Jan 2016 248,956 miles

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Offside Front Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear Tyre has had the tread recut inner tyre +tyre flat (4.1.D.1c)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Centre Front Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d) DANGEROUS

Fail 28 May 2014 248,473 miles

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Pass 28 May 2013 247,536 miles

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 30 May 2012 243,104 miles
Fail 21 May 2012 242,898 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 26 May 2011 234,991 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

all brake pipes covered with under seel

Fail 23 May 2011 234,991 miles

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1e)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Front front brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Front front brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Brake pipe leaking (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

all brake pipes covered with under seel

Pass 18 May 2010 229,339 miles
Pass 18 May 2009 224,076 miles
Pass 20 May 2008 218,551 miles
Fail 19 May 2008 218,551 miles

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Offside Front brake caliper leaking (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Pass 1 May 2007 214,025 miles

service brake needs serviceing n/s rear indicator slight dim may needs cleening lens

Pass 3 May 2006 208,063 miles
Fail 26 Apr 2006 208,063 miles

Offside Rear Leaf spring cracked (2.4.B.1a)

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Lt?

Based on 549,592 MOT tests across 45,159 vehicles.

65.2%
Pass Rate
6,396
Miles/Year
39
Year Lifespan
45,159
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 51,116
position lamp(s) not working 19,926
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 19,126
Stop lamp not working 18,682
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 15,828
Full Volkswagen Lt reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

C538 XBA is a 1986 Volkswagen Lt in Beige with a 2,384cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.7%.

Across all 1986 Volkswagen Lt models, the average MOT pass rate is 59.9% with a typical mileage of 73,107 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Lt fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 51,116 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C538 XBA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Lt typically stays on UK roads for around 39 years. At 40 years old, this Volkswagen Lt is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C538 XBA?

You can check the full history of C538 XBA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C538 XBA registered?

C538 XBA is a 1986 Volkswagen Lt, first registered on 24 January 1986.

Is C538 XBA safe to buy?

The MOT history for C538 XBA shows 28 tests with a 60.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C538 XBA have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on C538 XBA. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.