Volkswagen Caravelle Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Volkswagen Caravelle fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 33,753 MOT tests across 32 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: large car | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
76%
Volkswagen Caravelle pass rate
85%
Volkswagen average
82%
All-model average
The Volkswagen Caravelle has an average MOT pass rate of 76%, which is 9 points below the Volkswagen average and 6 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Volkswagen Caravelles pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 11 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Volkswagen Caravelle Fails Its MOT On
Of the 6,146 MOT tests on the Volkswagen Caravelle that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
40%Cars and vans the same age: 44% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
39%Cars and vans the same age: 34% · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
30%Cars and vans the same age: 27% · Typical repair £80-£450
Body, chassis and structure
21%Cars and vans the same age: 18% · Typical repair £200-£1200
Tyres
16%Cars and vans the same age: 16% · Typical repair £50-£300
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (8% of failed tests, suspension)
- Position lamp: not working (7.9% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure (7.2% of failed tests, body, chassis and structure)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Volkswagen Caravelle Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Caravelle year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Volkswagen Caravelle Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Diesel | 2.0L | 86% | 14% | - |
| 2020 | Diesel | 2.0L | 88% | 12% | - |
| 2019 | Diesel | 2.0L | 88% | 11% | 91% (-3) |
| 2018 | Diesel | 2.0L | 85% | 15% | 89% (-4) |
| 2017 | Diesel | 2.0L | 86% | 14% | 87% (-1) |
| 2016 | Diesel | 2.0L | 84% | 15% | 86% (-2) |
| 2015 | Diesel | 2.0L | 80% | 19% | 84% (-4) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 2.0L | 81% | 18% | 82% (-1) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 2.0L | 82% | 17% | 80% (+2) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 2.0L | 82% | 18% | 79% (+3) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 2.0L | 81% | 19% | 77% (+4) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.5L | 78% | 22% | 75% (+3) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 3.2L | 73% | 26% | - |
| 2008 | Diesel | 2.5L | 74% | 25% | 74% (0) |
| 2007 | Diesel | 1.9L | 75% | 25% | 73% (+2) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 3.2L | 73% | 27% | 73% (0) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 3.2L | 73% | 27% | 73% (0) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 3.2L | 72% | 28% | - |
| 2003 | Diesel | 2.5L | 70% | 29% | 72% (-2) |
| 2002 | Diesel | 2.5L | 73% | 26% | 73% (0) |
| 2001 | Diesel | 2.5L | 72% | 27% | 73% (-1) |
| 2000 | Diesel | 1.9L | 72% | 28% | 74% (-2) |
| 1999 | Diesel | 2.5L | 69% | 29% | 75% (-6) |
| 1998 | Diesel | 2.5L | 70% | 30% | 76% (-6) |
| 1997 | Diesel | 2.5L | 69% | 29% | 76% (-7) |
| 1996 | Petrol | 2.5L | 64% | 36% | - |
| 1995 | Petrol | 2.0L | 65% | 34% | - |
| 1994 | Petrol | 2.5L | 63% | 35% | - |
| 1993 | Petrol | 2.5L | 67% | 30% | - |
| 1992 | Petrol | 2.0L | 68% | 31% | - |
| 1991 | Petrol | 2.0L | 73% | 26% | - |
| 1990 | Petrol | 2.1L | 71% | 26% | - |
Volkswagen Caravelle Running Costs
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Volkswagen Caravelle FAQ
What are the most common Volkswagen Caravelle problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Volkswagen Caravelle that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (40% of the 6,146 failed tests), suspension (39%) and brakes (30%). The single most common fault was "Coil spring: fractured or broken" (8%). Across 33,753 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 76% ended in a pass.
Is the Volkswagen Caravelle reliable?
The Volkswagen Caravelle has an average MOT pass rate of 76%, from 33,753 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Volkswagen Caravelle years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 1997 (69% of 1,361 tests passed, against 76% for all 1997 cars), the 1998 (70% of 1,438 tests passed, against 76% for all 1998 cars) and the 1999 (69% of 1,275 tests passed, against 75% for all 1999 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2011 (81% of 1,238 tests passed, against 77% for all 2011 cars), the 2012 (82% of 1,670 tests passed, against 79% for all 2012 cars) and the 2010 (78% of 1,366 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Volkswagen Caravelle faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Volkswagen Caravelle typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Volkswagen Models
Common problems pages for other Volkswagen models