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TBW 988L

1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan

Orange Petrol 1600cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Jun 2026
Tests27 (20 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate74.1%

Mileage

53,118 mi
Last recorded53,118 miles
Recorded on12 Jun 2025
Typical for 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan51,092 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationTBW 988L
MakeVolkswagen
ModelMotor Caravan
Year1973
ColourOrange
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,600cc

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 7 fail
Pass 12 Jun 2025 53,118 miles
Pass 31 May 2024 53,084 miles
Pass 12 May 2023 53,015 miles
Pass 13 May 2022 52,791 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2021 52,633 miles
Pass 24 Apr 2020 52,442 miles
Pass 3 May 2019 51,991 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2018 51,286 miles
Pass 11 May 2017 50,645 miles
Pass 16 May 2016 49,740 miles
Pass 21 Mar 2015 49,095 miles

Oil leak

lower steering column rubber perished

some play in steering idler

Fail 19 Mar 2015 49,093 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Nearside Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose bulging under pressure (3.6.B.3)

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Oil leak

lower steering column rubber perished

some play in steering idler

Fail 25 Feb 2015 49,066 miles

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

Nearside Front Torsion bar deteriorated by corrosion so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened (2.4.E.1b)

Offside Front Torsion bar deteriorated by corrosion so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened (2.4.E.1b)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

nearside inner sill holed & rusty,but not within 12" of any mounting points

slight play in offside front wheeel bearing

Pass 28 Feb 2014 46,693 miles

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

Fail 28 Feb 2014 46,693 miles

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

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

Pass 1 Mar 2013 44,535 miles
Pass 28 Feb 2012 42,264 miles
Pass 2 Mar 2011 41,379 miles
Fail 25 Feb 2011 41,376 miles

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

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

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

Pass 25 Feb 2011 41,376 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2010 41,182 miles
Fail 17 Feb 2010 41,182 miles

Centre Rear Brake pipe leaking (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Pass 18 Feb 2009 40,372 miles
Pass 20 Feb 2008 39,234 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2008 39,230 miles

Nearside Front Steering locking device missing (2.2.C.1g)

Nearside Front Suspension has inadequate clearance with the bump stop (2.4.A.1a)

Nearside Rear Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

Pass 2 May 2006 38,252 miles
Fail 18 Apr 2006 38,176 miles

Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (hotspot upper edge above the horizontal 0% line) (1.6.D1)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.6.D2)

Steering system excessively tight (2.2.D.1)

Nearside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1) DANGEROUS

n/s/r chassis in eng comp corroded == n/s/r inner arch corroded == floor under rear seat corroded == center chassis corroded ==o/s sill corroded

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Motor Caravan?

Based on 109,687 MOT tests across 8,425 vehicles.

67.5%
Pass Rate
1,075
Miles/Year
56
Year Lifespan
8,425
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 8,888
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 8,044
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 4,769
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 4,156
position lamp(s) not working 3,700
Full Volkswagen Motor Caravan reliability report

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TBW 988L is a 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan in Orange with a 1,600cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 74.1%.

Across all 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.7% with a typical mileage of 51,092 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Motor Caravan fails its MOT is windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, accounting for 8,888 recorded failures. If you're considering buying TBW 988L, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Motor Caravan typically stays on UK roads for around 56 years. At 53 years old, this Volkswagen Motor Caravan is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of TBW 988L?

You can check the full history of TBW 988L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was TBW 988L registered?

TBW 988L is a 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan, first registered on 13 June 1973.

Is TBW 988L safe to buy?

The MOT history for TBW 988L shows 27 tests with a 74.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does TBW 988L 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 TBW 988L. 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.