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R494 VHE

1997 Volkswagen Caravelle

Red Petrol 2792cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Jul 2027
Tests32 (20 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

194,596 mi
Last recorded194,596 miles
Recorded on6 Jul 2026
Typical for 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle141,911 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR494 VHE
MakeVolkswagen
ModelCaravelle
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,792cc

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 12 fail
Pass 6 Jul 2026 194,596 miles

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

Fail 18 Jun 2026 194,591 miles

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

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

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

Pass 30 May 2025 189,314 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

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

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

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wheel arches by shock mounting point both sides (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 23 May 2025 189,311 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper not working arm loose (3.4 (a))

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened as no reading from brake test and disc is very rusty will check when have full braking effort (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wheel arches by shock mounting point both sides (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Oct 2023 186,787 miles

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

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

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 3 Nov 2022 182,760 miles

Nearside Front corrosion to chassis and holed

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Inner sill holed and corroded

Rear Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair both footbrake readings very low (1.2.1 (c))

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both by top mount (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 24 Oct 2022 182,757 miles

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

Nearside Front corrosion to chassis and holed

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Inner sill holed and corroded

Rear Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair both footbrake readings very low (1.2.1 (c))

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both by top mount (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Nov 2021 178,649 miles

Nearside Front chassis holed and corroded

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Inner sill holed and corroded

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both by top shock mounting points (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear both footbrake readings low

Pass 6 Nov 2020 175,190 miles

Rear service brake on rear very low effort from both sides

Fail 2 Nov 2020 175,190 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Rear service brake on rear very low effort from both sides

Pass 29 Oct 2019 171,219 miles

Front Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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

engine oil level below minimum

Fail 16 Oct 2019 171,016 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

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

Front Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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

engine oil level below minimum

Pass 18 Oct 2018 161,633 miles

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

Fail 17 Oct 2018 161,608 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

Pass 14 Dec 2017 154,441 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases flexy section (7.1.2)

Nearside Front outer sill had surface rust

Nearside under sill rusted / holed

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

Offside Front outer sill has surface rust

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Oil leak engine

Fail 12 Dec 2017 154,441 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases flexy section (7.1.2)

Nearside Front outer sill had surface rust

Nearside under sill rusted / holed

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

Offside Front outer sill has surface rust

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Oil leak engine

engine oil level below min.

Pass 22 Sep 2016 149,847 miles

1x front exhaust rubber mount missing

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Rear slight bind from wheel

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 19 Sep 2016 149,813 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

1x front exhaust rubber mount missing

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Rear slight bind from wheel

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

no engine oil on dipstick

Pass 10 Sep 2015 146,734 miles

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion o/s and n/s inner and outer sills (6.1.A.1)

engine oil leak

Pass 11 Sep 2014 142,209 miles

BOTH OFF SIDE AND NEAR SIDE FRONT OUTER SILLS STARTING TO CORODE

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Oil leak

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 30 Aug 2013 138,149 miles

GEAR BOX OIL LEAK

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

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

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

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

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

Fail 21 Jun 2013 138,041 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Nearside Steering rack deformed but serviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Oil leak

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

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

Pass 11 Jun 2012 136,003 miles

all brake discs has surface rust as vehicle has been stood still for a time

near side and off side outer sills starting to corode

Fail 31 May 2012 135,998 miles

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

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

all brake discs has surface rust as vehicle has been stood still for a time

near side and off side outer sills starting to corode

non cat test preformed no vehicle on system for cat test

Pass 10 May 2011 133,173 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 29 Apr 2010 125,660 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

both front tyres wearing inner edge

Pass 16 Apr 2009 116,006 miles

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

Fail 16 Apr 2009 116,006 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively chafed (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

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

Pass 16 Apr 2008 110,006 miles
Fail 15 Apr 2008 109,992 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Front passenger seat insecure (6.2.3)

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

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Oil leak

Pass 20 Jan 2007 101,154 miles

Nearside Front Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Offside Front Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Pass 21 Jan 2006 99,115 miles

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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R494 VHE is a 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle in Red with a 2,792cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

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 R494 VHE, 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 R494 VHE?

You can check the full history of R494 VHE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R494 VHE registered?

R494 VHE is a 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle, first registered on 5 December 1997.

Is R494 VHE safe to buy?

The MOT history for R494 VHE shows 32 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R494 VHE 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 R494 VHE. 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.