2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT pass rate and common faults

408 MOT tests in 2024. 55.4% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time55.4%
Failed or needed repairs44.6%
Typical mileage at test117,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 408 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.7%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.7%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.4%
  4. Position lamp: not working3.4%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.4%
    18 marked dangerous
  6. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.2%
  7. Stop lamp: not working2.7%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.7%
  9. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.7%
  10. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.5%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics24.8%
  2. Suspension22.5%
  3. Brakes13.7%
  4. Tyres8.6%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.8%
  6. Emissions & leaks5.4%
  7. Steering3.9%
  8. Body & chassis2.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.2%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.8%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine7.4%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.1%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure7.1%

Is it getting worse with age?

The same 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle cars, tested one year apart.

2023 pass rate (age 14)63.3%406 tests
2024 pass rate (age 15)55.4%408 tests
Change in one year−7.9 pointsaverage car: −0.6 points

All cars pass less often as they get older. The 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle is ageing worse than an average car, so problems may be starting to build up at this age.

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2008 CaravelleAll Caravelle years2010 Caravelle →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle?

In 2024, 55.4% of 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle cars passed their MOT first time, across 408 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle?

The most common failure reasons were registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 95, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).

Is the 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle getting worse with age?

In 2023, 63.3% passed first time. In 2024, 55.4% passed (−7.9 points). An average car that age changed by −0.6 points, so the 2009 Volkswagen Caravelle is ageing worse than average.