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R981 LVE

1997 Volkswagen Caravelle

White Petrol 2792cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Sep 2026
Tests15 (9 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

159,643 mi
Last recorded159,643 miles
Recorded on4 Sep 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

RegistrationR981 LVE
MakeVolkswagen
ModelCaravelle
Year1997
ColourWhite
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

9 pass 6 fail
Fail 4 Sep 2026 159,643 miles

Bonnet primary retaining device ineffective (3.1 (c))

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

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

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

Pass 12 Sep 2025 158,361 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Fail 21 Aug 2025 158,361 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 30 Aug 2024 156,125 miles

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

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

Fail 15 Aug 2024 156,122 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

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

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

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

Pass 23 Aug 2023 154,411 miles

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

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

Fail 23 Aug 2023 154,411 miles

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Pass 29 Jun 2022 154,398 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 15 Apr 2021 153,653 miles
Pass 1 May 2020 153,270 miles
Pass 8 Aug 2018 153,144 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2017 151,565 miles

Nearside Front dampness where brake pipe meets brake hose, no leaks

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion chassis leg (6.1.A.1)

Fail 14 Aug 2017 151,549 miles

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

Front Electrical wiring inadequately supported front fogs (1.9.2a)

Nearside Front Electrical wiring insecure horn (1.9.2a)

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

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front dampness where brake pipe meets brake hose, no leaks

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion chassis leg (6.1.A.1)

Pass 18 Aug 2016 149,906 miles
Fail 17 Aug 2016 149,883 miles

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

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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R981 LVE is a 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle in White with a 2,792cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 R981 LVE, 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 R981 LVE?

You can check the full history of R981 LVE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R981 LVE registered?

R981 LVE is a 1997 Volkswagen Caravelle, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R981 LVE safe to buy?

The MOT history for R981 LVE shows 15 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R981 LVE 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 R981 LVE. 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.