MPV and people carrier · 1996–2021 cars

Volkswagen Caravelle reliability

The Volkswagen Caravelle fails 33.5% of first MOT tests, 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 50,264 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 53/100#15 of 49 mpv and people carriers

Checking a Volkswagen Caravelle before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 33.5%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 4% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 50,264; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 9,400; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Volkswagen Caravelle ages

Each point is the share of Volkswagen Caravelles of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Volkswagen CaravelleAll cars

Volkswagen Caravelle first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Volkswagen Caravelle	All cars
3	16%	12.3%
4	16.2%	14.1%
5	18.5%	16.4%
6	23.5%	19.1%
7	22.3%	22.1%
8	24.7%	25.5%
9	26.2%	28.8%
10	29.1%	31.8%
11	27.4%	34.6%
12	32.5%	37.3%
13	32.9%	39.5%
14	38.5%	41.1%
15	42.1%	42.3%
16	44.8%	42.9%
17	43%	43.4%
18	44.9%	43.5%
19	45.2%	43.4%
20	44.9%	42.8%
21	42.5%	41.4%
22	43.3%	40.6%
23	44.8%	38.9%
24	44.4%	37.1%
25	48.1%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Volkswagen Caravelle years

2013 cars come out best and 2018 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Volkswagen Caravelle MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	232	23.3%	80% more fails	31,684
2020 Caravelle	1,287	13.1%	5% fewer fails	33,971
2019 Caravelle	2,141	16.3%	14% more fails	36,908
2018 Caravelle	2,184	19.8%	26% more fails	41,095
2017 Caravelle	2,974	19.6%	2% more fails	55,209
2016 Caravelle	3,142	22.1%	1% more fails	62,988
2015 Caravelle	2,377	25.3%	1% fewer fails	71,191
2014 Caravelle	2,032	25.8%	7% fewer fails	74,353
2013 Caravelle	2,339	24.7%	21% fewer fails	81,743
2012 Caravelle	2,745	27.5%	20% fewer fails	92,689
2011 Caravelle	2,167	30.6%	17% fewer fails	98,438
2010 Caravelle	2,175	32.5%	19% fewer fails	107,847
2009 Caravelle	1,446	38.6%	7% fewer fails	110,868
2008 Caravelle	1,999	41.5%	5% fewer fails	131,204
2007 Caravelle	2,140	42.2%	5% fewer fails	140,474
2006 Caravelle	2,154	45.1%	0% fewer fails	153,496
2005 Caravelle	2,388	44.7%	2% fewer fails	160,339
2004 Caravelle	1,785	44.7%	2% fewer fails	163,365
2003 Caravelle	1,990	46.3%	1% more fails	184,131
2002 Caravelle	2,289	42.1%	7% fewer fails	189,310
2001 Caravelle	2,100	43.7%	3% fewer fails	185,815
2000 Caravelle	1,935	44.1%	0% fewer fails	186,944
1999 Caravelle	1,767	44.3%	3% more fails	195,796
1998 Caravelle	1,634	46.1%	12% more fails	184,168
1997	679	50.1%	24% more fails	164,724

Common problems

What fails most on a Volkswagen Caravelle

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics13.4%15% below avg
Suspension12.2%4% below avg
Brakes9.8%5% below avg
Body, chassis and structure6.1%7% below avg
Tyres6%9% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5%13% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.8%21% below avg
Steering3.6%4% above avg
Seat belts and airbags2%7% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Coil spring fractured or broken 2.58% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
2
Position lamp not working 2.48% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Registration plate lamp not working 1.71% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
4
CV joint boot split or insecure 1.61% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
5
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 1.55% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
6
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.53% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
7
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.52% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
8
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 1.51% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Volkswagen Caravelle's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit13.75%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.77%
Brake disc pitted or scored7.31%
Engine oil leak, not excessive7.09%
Brake pads wearing thin6.1%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear5.87%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Volkswagen Caravelle

1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Registration plate lamp not working
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
4
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Volkswagen Caravelle covers about 9,400 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel96.3%
Petrol3.6%
LPG0.1%
Electric0%

Most common colours

Blue, Silver, Black, Grey, Red

Average engine size: 2.2 litres.

Compare

How the Volkswagen Caravelle compares with its rivals

Volkswagen Caravelle against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Mercedes-Benz V-Class	17%	24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Nissan Elgrand	29%	17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volkswagen Caravelle	33.5%	4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
SEAT Altea	41.2%	4% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Tourneo	25.6%	10% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Carens	35.6%	25% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën C4 Grand Picasso	28.6%	49% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier reliability index, or all Volkswagen models.

Questions

Volkswagen Caravelle questions, answered

Is the Volkswagen Caravelle reliable?

On MOT results, the Volkswagen Caravelle is about average: it fails 33.5% of first MOT tests, 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 15 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.

What fails most on a Volkswagen Caravelle MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen Caravelle are coil spring fractured or broken (2.58% of tests), position lamp not working (2.48% of tests), registration plate lamp not working (1.71% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 13.4% of its tests.

Which Volkswagen Caravelle year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2013 cars do best (21% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2018 cars do worst (26% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Volkswagen Caravelle do a year?

A typical Volkswagen Caravelle covers about 9,400 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Volkswagen Caravelle before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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