CarVerify

Free Car Check

R515 LJW

1997 Volkswagen Caravelle

Red Diesel 2459cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 Jul 2027
Tests28 (21 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

179,378 mi
Last recorded179,378 miles
Recorded on13 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
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

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

RegistrationR515 LJW
MakeVolkswagen
ModelCaravelle
Year1997
ColourRed
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

21 pass 7 fail
Pass 13 Jul 2026 179,378 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn Shocker bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn Shocker bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Underbody under sealed

Fail 7 Jul 2026 179,347 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn Shocker bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn Shocker bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Underbody under sealed

Pass 27 Jun 2025 176,578 miles
Pass 8 Jul 2024 170,652 miles

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Fail 8 Jul 2024 170,646 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Headlamp light source and lamp not compatible (4.1.4 (c))

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp light source and lamp not compatible (4.1.4 (c))

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 27 Jul 2023 166,557 miles

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

Fail 25 Jul 2023 166,535 miles

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

Brake load sensing valve seized and ABS not fitted or inoperative (1.1.17 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 12 Jul 2022 162,501 miles

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

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

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

Pass 28 Jun 2021 157,207 miles

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

Pass 13 Jul 2020 154,069 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2019 149,849 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2018 144,193 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2017 139,559 miles

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

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner sill (5.2.6)

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

Pass 21 Jul 2016 136,147 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2015 132,657 miles

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

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

Pass 30 Jun 2014 129,132 miles

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

nearside front wheel arch area corroding

Pass 25 Jul 2013 125,813 miles

offside front inner flitch panel is corroding

rear brake discs are pitted

Pass 27 Jul 2012 121,926 miles

both rear brake discs are pitted

offside front inner flitch panel is showing signs of corrosion

Fail 20 Jul 2012 121,788 miles

Front Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

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

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

Offside Obligatory mirror insecure (8.1.1) DANGEROUS

both rear brake discs are pitted

offside front inner flitch panel is showing signs of corrosion

Pass 4 Jul 2011 117,881 miles

Oil leak

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

advise - fuel tank strap corroded

advise - play in o/s steering arm

Fail 1 Jul 2011 117,881 miles

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

Centre Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Front registration plate faded (6.3.1d)

Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user (1.6.2b)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

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

Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Oil leak

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

advise - fuel tank strap corroded

advise - play in o/s steering arm

Pass 22 Jul 2010 114,015 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Oil leak

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Fail 21 Jul 2010 114,015 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Oil leak

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Pass 22 Jul 2009 109,312 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2008 105,316 miles

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Fail 17 Jul 2008 105,316 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

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

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Pass 18 Jul 2007 99,913 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 21 Jul 2006 95,348 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

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

R515 LJW is a 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle in Red with a 2,459cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 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 R515 LJW, 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 R515 LJW?

You can check the full history of R515 LJW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R515 LJW registered?

R515 LJW is a 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R515 LJW safe to buy?

The MOT history for R515 LJW shows 28 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 R515 LJW 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 R515 LJW. 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.