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R173 OTA

1998 Volkswagen Caravelle

Blue Diesel 2370cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires10 Feb 2027
Tests36 (20 pass, 16 fail)
Pass rate55.6%

Mileage

165,646 mi
Last recorded165,646 miles
Recorded on27 Jan 2026
Typical for 1998 Volkswagen Caravelle151,130 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR173 OTA
MakeVolkswagen
ModelCaravelle
Year1998
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,370cc

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 16 fail
Pass 27 Jan 2026 165,646 miles

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 11 Feb 2025 165,646 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 14 Jan 2025 165,646 miles

Central Rear Seat belt buckle not functioning as intended (7.1.2 (d))

Offside Rear Seat belt webbing significantly weakened cut greater than 4mm (7.1.2 (b))

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

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

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 1 Feb 2024 165,646 miles
Fail 25 Jan 2024 165,646 miles

Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Jan 2023 165,646 miles

Nearside Front Outer Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 18 Jan 2023 165,646 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Brake pivot has restricted free movement (1.1.15 (e))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Outer Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Dec 2021 165,646 miles

Differential has excessive play.

Gear oil leak.

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Floor area near spring. (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view Chip in drivers view. (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 8 Dec 2021

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Nearside Front Inner Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) Rack end. (2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Drive shaft joint so worn it is likely to fail (6.1.7 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Air box missing, intake incomplete.

Differential has excessive play.

Gear oil leak.

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Floor area near spring. (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view Chip in drivers view. (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Dec 2020 165,646 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Fail 3 Dec 2020 165,546 miles

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 6 Jun 2019 161,363 miles

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

Fail 30 May 2019 161,361 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

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

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

Pass 16 May 2018 149,376 miles
Pass 26 May 2017 138,518 miles

Both front and nearside rear tyres low inner edges

Front cross member badly corroded

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

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

Oil leak

Fail 26 May 2017 138,515 miles

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Both front and nearside rear tyres low inner edges

Front cross member badly corroded

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 27 May 2016 127,545 miles
Fail 25 May 2016 127,541 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a non-turbo charged engine noise from engine not tested (7.4.B.3b)

Offside Front Steering arm has relative movement at its fixings (2.2.B.1h)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick inner pads (3.5.1g)

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

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

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

Pass 13 May 2015 119,434 miles
Fail 6 May 2015 119,270 miles

Front registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

Pass 27 May 2014 107,093 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 29 May 2013 94,198 miles

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

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

Fail 29 May 2013 94,198 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Fuel pipe union leaking (7.2.3)

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

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

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

Pass 29 May 2012 83,328 miles

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

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

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

Pass 11 May 2011 75,083 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

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

Fail 11 May 2011 75,083 miles

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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

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

Pass 1 Jun 2010 64,438 miles
Fail 27 May 2010 64,224 miles

Centre Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

Offside Front Direction indicator incomplete (1.5.A1b)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 28 May 2009 49,840 miles
Fail 27 May 2009 49,836 miles

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

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not fitted (1.1.C.1b)

Pass 29 May 2008 41,554 miles
Fail 28 May 2008 41,554 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 31 May 2007 38,706 miles
Fail 30 May 2007 38,706 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Obligatory mirror insecure (8.1.1)

Offside Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 31 May 2006 34,731 miles
Fail 31 May 2006 34,731 miles

Offside Front Direction indicator excessively damaged so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.4.A.2e)

Offside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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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R173 OTA is a 1998 Volkswagen Caravelle in Blue with a 2,370cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 36 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55.6%.

Across all 1998 Volkswagen Caravelle models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.1% with a typical mileage of 151,130 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 R173 OTA, 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 28 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 R173 OTA?

You can check the full history of R173 OTA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R173 OTA registered?

R173 OTA is a 1998 Volkswagen Caravelle, first registered on 2 July 1998.

Is R173 OTA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R173 OTA shows 36 tests with a 55.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R173 OTA 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 R173 OTA. 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.