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R149 LAM

1997 Volkswagen Caravelle

Silver Diesel 2459cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Mar 2027
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

306,214 mi
Last recorded306,214 miles
Recorded on16 Feb 2026
Typical for 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle141,911 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR149 LAM
MakeVolkswagen
ModelCaravelle
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,459cc

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

20 pass 11 fail
Pass 16 Feb 2026 306,214 miles

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

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

Pass 12 Feb 2025 305,405 miles

Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play n/s o/s (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

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

Pass 2 Mar 2024 303,628 miles

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour but not likely to obscure the vision of other road users (8.2.2.2 (c))

Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated N/S O/S (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play N/S O/S (5.3.4 (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))

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

Fail 23 Feb 2024 303,626 miles

Nearside Front Inner Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced x2 (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour but not likely to obscure the vision of other road users (8.2.2.2 (c))

Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated N/S O/S (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play N/S O/S (5.3.4 (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))

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

Fail 24 Nov 2023 303,613 miles

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Nearside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced wheelarch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 25 Nov 2022 301,377 miles
Pass 27 Nov 2021 299,976 miles
Pass 27 Nov 2020 298,056 miles

NO SPARE WHEEL

Fail 23 Nov 2020 298,056 miles

Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 1 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Road wheel fixings not compatible (5.2.2 (d))

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm near side front tyre worn cord showing (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

NO SPARE WHEEL

Pass 20 May 2019 290,330 miles

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both front (D) bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front tyre bald on inner edge

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view windscreen cracked (3.2 (a) (i))

both front brake hoses perished

under body corroded

Fail 26 Apr 2019 290,033 miles

Brake fluid contaminated (1.8 (a))

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 3 May 2018 283,712 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 3 May 2018 283,712 miles

Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

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

Pass 5 May 2017 279,499 miles

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

headlamp aims on upper limit

nearside and offside outer sills corroded/holed

Fail 2 May 2017 279,482 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

headlamp aims on upper limit

nearside and offside outer sills corroded/holed

Pass 5 May 2016 275,367 miles
Fail 24 Mar 2016 275,355 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded closure panel (5.2.6)

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded outer sill (5.2.6)

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded closure panel (2.4.A.3)

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

Pass 18 Mar 2015 268,705 miles

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

Pass 24 Mar 2014 263,560 miles
Fail 19 Mar 2014 263,560 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 12 Apr 2013 259,137 miles
Fail 10 Apr 2013 259,137 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 9 Mar 2012 251,060 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 10 Mar 2011 246,216 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 3 Mar 2011 246,216 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.6.6)

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

Spare tyre defective

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 16 Sep 2009 236,471 miles

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

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 11 Sep 2008 220,232 miles

Advise abs ring on n/s drive shaft split

Pass 6 Sep 2007 199,964 miles

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

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

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

Pass 28 Apr 2006 180,720 miles
Pass 1 Nov 2005 180,090 miles
Fail 28 Oct 2005 179,939 miles

Nearside Front Steering column shaft has excessive end float (2.1.3)

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

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

Offside Front Steering column shaft has excessive end float (2.1.3)

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

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R149 LAM is a 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle in Silver with a 2,459cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

Across all 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.1% with a typical mileage of 141,911 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 R149 LAM, 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 29 years old, this Volkswagen Caravelle is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R149 LAM?

You can check the full history of R149 LAM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R149 LAM registered?

R149 LAM is a 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle, first registered on 8 September 1997.

Is R149 LAM safe to buy?

The MOT history for R149 LAM shows 31 tests with a 64.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R149 LAM 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 R149 LAM. 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.