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E181 XWJ

1988 Volkswagen Caravelle

Silver Petrol 1915cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 May 2027
Tests24 (18 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

196,495 mi
Last recorded196,495 miles
Recorded on12 May 2026
Typical for 1988 Volkswagen Caravelle110,468 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationE181 XWJ
MakeVolkswagen
ModelCaravelle
Year1988
ColourSilver
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 6 fail
Pass 12 May 2026 196,495 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced front of sill area (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced step area (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced front of sill area (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced step area (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 10 May 2025 194,923 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

o/s/f brake disc slightly corroded

Pass 11 Mar 2024 193,157 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Pass 27 Feb 2023 191,105 miles

Nearside Front headlight condensated

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing badly perished (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing badly perished (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

Pass 10 Mar 2022 190,359 miles

Hazard warning switch faulty (4.4.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Fail 8 Mar 2022 190,359 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear inner bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Hazard warning switch faulty (4.4.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Pass 10 Mar 2021 188,361 miles

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Pass 5 Oct 2018 188,213 miles

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Pass 1 Sep 2017 185,297 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 29 Aug 2017 185,284 miles

Offside Front Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Inner Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.4.G.4e)

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

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 16 Aug 2016 183,530 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Rear exhaust pipe corroded

hand brake lever slightly stiff

Pass 2 Jul 2015 182,205 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) deteriorated, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

both front wiper blades slightly worn

Fail 7 Jul 2014 179,574 miles

Exhaust corroded

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 7 Jul 2014 179,574 miles

Exhaust corroded

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 8 May 2013 177,241 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2012 174,871 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 26 Apr 2011 171,165 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

nearside & offside hand brake shoes require slight adjustment

nearside front tyre damaged on outer sidewall

Fail 26 Apr 2011 171,159 miles

Exhaust engine idle speed too high (7.3.A.2a)

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

nearside & offside hand brake shoes require slight adjustment

nearside front tyre damaged on outer sidewall

Pass 7 Sep 2009 170,312 miles
Pass 6 Aug 2008 169,999 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Oil leak

n/s/f tyre slight damage to outer wall

Fail 23 Jul 2008 169,660 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Registration plate lamp flickers when tapped lightly by hand (1.1.5e)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Oil leak

n/s/f tyre slight damage to outer wall

Pass 26 Jul 2007 167,811 miles
Fail 25 Jul 2007 167,811 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Offside rear brakes release unevenly (3.7.B.4)

handbrake has long travel

Pass 15 Jun 2006 165,199 miles

Nearside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

n/s/f tyre cut on outer side wall

o/s & n/s foot steps rusted & holed

rear seats been added no seat belts fitted

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

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E181 XWJ is a 1988 Volkswagen Caravelle in Silver with a 1,915cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 E181 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 E181 XWJ?

You can check the full history of E181 XWJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E181 XWJ registered?

E181 XWJ is a 1988 Volkswagen Caravelle, first registered on 1 April 1988.

Is E181 XWJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for E181 XWJ shows 24 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E181 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 E181 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.