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VUW 55S

1978 Volkswagen Motor Caravan

Blue Petrol 1584cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Sep 2027
Tests32 (18 pass, 14 fail)
Pass rate56.3%

Mileage

59,220 mi
Last recorded59,220 miles
Recorded on11 Aug 2026
Typical for 1978 Volkswagen Motor Caravan44,830 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

RegistrationVUW 55S
MakeVolkswagen
ModelMotor Caravan
Year1978
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,584cc

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

18 pass 14 fail
Pass 11 Aug 2026 59,220 miles

minor corrosion on outer body panels

minor corrosion on underside

Fail 7 Aug 2026 59,218 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Intermediate drop arm insecure steering damper on front axle (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

minor corrosion on outer body panels

minor corrosion on underside

Pass 3 Sep 2025 58,746 miles

minor corrosion on underside

Fail 13 May 2025 58,205 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage loose (7.1.1 (b))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage loose (7.1.1 (b))

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

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

Pass 12 Dec 2023 57,913 miles
Fail 11 Dec 2023 57,913 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

idle speed too low and vehicle stalls at idle

Pass 13 Dec 2022 57,904 miles
Fail 2 Dec 2022 57,902 miles

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

Exhaust emissions - engine idle speed too high (8.2.1.2 (e))

Rear Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Pass 20 Oct 2021 57,894 miles

Nearside and offside front and rear inner sill under body and all chassis and suspensions are corroded

Fail 30 Sep 2021 57,880 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Body component corroded and likely to cause injury and offside rear under body (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Body component corroded and likely to cause injury under body (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced cross member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced cross member (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside and offside front and rear inner sill under body and all chassis and suspensions are corroded

Pass 28 Sep 2020 51,607 miles

Nearside and offside front and rear under body inner sill chassis corroded

Fail 14 Sep 2020 51,607 miles

Nearside Rear Cab or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a cab mounting chassis suspension (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Cab or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a cab mounting chassis suspension (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Cab or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a cab mounting under body (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside and offside front and rear under body inner sill chassis corroded

Pass 2 Sep 2019 56,604 miles

Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt both sides (2.1.3 (g) (i))

oil leak

Fail 1 Aug 2019 56,581 miles

Front Direction indicator incorrect colour both sides (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Rear Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced both sides (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Rear Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Inner Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt both sides (2.1.3 (g) (i))

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

Pass 13 Jun 2018 55,926 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2017 55,079 miles
Fail 30 Mar 2017 55,078 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 11 Jul 2015 54,679 miles

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

Pass 15 Apr 2014 53,046 miles
Pass 24 Apr 2013 52,813 miles
Fail 24 Apr 2013 52,813 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b) DANGEROUS

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b) DANGEROUS

Pass 10 Apr 2012 52,787 miles

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

Pass 29 Jul 2010 52,267 miles

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

Pass 25 Jul 2009 49,960 miles
Fail 18 Jul 2009 49,940 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Steering locking device insecure (2.2.C.1g)

Nearside Stop lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.2.1f)

Offside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Steering system fouling (2.2.D.2a)

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 24 Jun 2008 49,077 miles
Fail 20 Jun 2008 49,061 miles

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

Fail 7 Jun 2008 49,048 miles

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

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

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

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Pass 11 May 2007 47,193 miles
Fail 11 May 2007 47,193 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

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

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

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

nearside/offside inner& outer cv gators split

Pass 24 May 2006 44,265 miles
Fail 22 May 2006 44,264 miles

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too low when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

Steering box insecure (2.2.B.1a)

Steering damper damaged and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

nearside ahd offside rear drivshaft inner and outer cv gators broken up

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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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.

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VUW 55S is a 1978 Volkswagen Motor Caravan in Blue with a 1,584cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 56.3%.

Across all 1978 Volkswagen Motor Caravan models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.3% with a typical mileage of 44,830 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 Motor Caravan fails its MOT is windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, accounting for 8,888 recorded failures. If you're considering buying VUW 55S, 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 48 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 VUW 55S?

You can check the full history of VUW 55S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VUW 55S registered?

VUW 55S is a 1978 Volkswagen Motor Caravan, first registered on 10 March 1978.

Is VUW 55S safe to buy?

The MOT history for VUW 55S shows 32 tests with a 56.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VUW 55S 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 VUW 55S. 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.