CarVerify

Free Car Check

E179 XWJ

1988 Volkswagen Caravelle

Grey Petrol 1915cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Aug 2026
Tests27 (18 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

151,057 mi
Last recorded151,057 miles
Recorded on26 Aug 2025
Typical for 1988 Volkswagen Caravelle110,468 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationE179 XWJ
MakeVolkswagen
ModelCaravelle
Year1988
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,915cc

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

18 pass 9 fail
Pass 26 Aug 2025 151,057 miles

Age related corrision Underbody

Pass 19 Jul 2024 148,546 miles
Pass 12 May 2023 148,543 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 26 Apr 2023 148,543 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 20 Sep 2022 148,547 miles
Fail 6 Sep 2022 148,547 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 10 Sep 2021 147,966 miles
Fail 6 Sep 2021 147,966 miles

Headlamp aim not tested (4.1.2 (b))

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

Nearside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.3.3 (b))

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

Pass 26 Oct 2020 147,338 miles
Pass 1 Oct 2018 145,386 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 3 Oct 2017 143,253 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 3 Oct 2017 143,253 miles

Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 3 Oct 2016 141,230 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2015 140,088 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2014 137,435 miles
Fail 11 Aug 2014 137,412 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 4 Dec 2012 136,207 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 29 Nov 2011 134,918 miles
Pass 23 Sep 2010 14,249 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2009 144,207 miles
Fail 11 Sep 2009 144,011 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Front Upper Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

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

rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Pass 26 Sep 2008 138,789 miles
Fail 19 Sep 2008 138,782 miles

Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

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

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

Pass 17 Sep 2007 132,332 miles
Fail 14 Sep 2007 132,332 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front brake disc has restricted free movement (3.5.1j)

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front brake disc has restricted free movement (3.5.1j)

Pass 21 Aug 2006 127,842 miles
Fail 3 Aug 2006 127,811 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

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

Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Caravelle?

Based on 422,168 MOT tests across 24,962 vehicles.

71.2%
Pass Rate
5,286
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
24,962
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Registration plate lamp not working 8,177
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 6,845
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 6,266
Brake pipe excessively corroded 5,996
position lamp(s) not working 4,827
Full Volkswagen Caravelle 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

E179 XWJ is a 1988 Volkswagen Caravelle in Grey with a 1,915cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

Across all 1988 Volkswagen Caravelle models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.2% with a typical mileage of 110,468 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Caravelle fails its MOT is registration plate lamp not working, accounting for 8,177 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E179 XWJ, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Caravelle typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 38 years old, this Volkswagen Caravelle is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E179 XWJ?

You can check the full history of E179 XWJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E179 XWJ registered?

E179 XWJ is a 1988 Volkswagen Caravelle, first registered on 30 December 1988.

Is E179 XWJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for E179 XWJ shows 27 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E179 XWJ 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 E179 XWJ. 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.