MOT reliability

Vauxhall Cavalier

Q: Is the Vauxhall Cavalier reliable?

Across 193,890 Vauxhall Cavalier vehicles in our MOT data, 63% pass the MOT (a 37% failure rate), with about 2.4 faults or advisories recorded per test.

193,890 vehicles · 791,419 completed MOT tests analysed

63%

MOT pass rate

Based on 193,890 Vauxhall Cavalier vehicles and 791,419 completed MOT tests, the Vauxhall Cavalier has an overall 63% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 128,354 miles.

193,890

Vehicles

791,419

MOT tests

6,717

Avg miles / year

2.4

Faults per test

Dangerous-fault share

Vauxhall Cavalier problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Vauxhall Cavalier MOT tests:

Other107%
Seatbelts & equipment5%
Steering5%
Emissions & nuisance4%
Tyres, wheels & suspension3%
Brakes3%
Body & structure0%
Visibility0%

Vauxhall Cavalier pass rate by age

How the Vauxhall Cavalier's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)	Tests	Pass rate
1	8	38%
2	5	40%
3	8	62%
4	7	57%
5	6	33%
6	11	64%
7	30	63%
8	60	70%
9	191	72%
10	15,853	68%
11	77,155	66%
12	127,394	64%
13	141,742	62%
14	119,395	61%
15	89,934	61%
16	64,523	61%
17	43,699	61%
18	28,205	62%
19	18,819	63%
20	13,317	64%

Fuel types: Petrol (166,828), Diesel (26,978), LPG (76), Electric (7), Other (1)

Most common Vauxhall Cavalier MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Vauxhall Cavalier MOT tests:

Oil leak (35,282 times)
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) (34,832 times)
Fuel pipe/s corroded (30,951 times)
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (30,669 times)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (27,765 times)
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (21,662 times)
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (21,278 times)
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (19,375 times)
Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c) (18,884 times)
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2) (17,359 times)
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) (17,227 times)
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2) (16,827 times)
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b) (16,553 times)
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c) (14,821 times)
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3) (13,828 times)

Vauxhall Cavalier pass rate by registration year

Year	Vehicles	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
2016	1	5	60%	53,312
2005	4	13	46%	147,444
2004	2	3	33%	126,021
2003	2	6	50%	98,525
2002	3	5	60%	139,457
2001	4	8	38%	110,562
2000	6	60	58%	126,356
1999	13	64	61%	122,412
1998	18	77	66%	133,352
1997	41	188	69%	117,747
1996	329	1,883	65%	126,349
1995	42,784	220,177	64%	130,003
1994	48,533	224,412	63%	133,571
1993	39,070	168,343	63%	134,412
1992	19,446	68,440	60%	123,765
1991	11,321	38,249	61%	122,480
1990	8,287	28,274	61%	119,840
1989	4,635	16,333	62%	116,685
1988	1,353	6,385	66%	75,710
1987	872	4,840	69%	67,408
1986	776	4,621	70%	62,775
1985	384	2,116	71%	63,950
1984	297	1,539	70%	60,031
1983	247	1,307	72%	58,958
1982	142	711	71%	60,877
1981	65	373	74%	62,143
1980	100	639	79%	60,045
1979	115	763	77%	68,408
1978	115	639	77%	69,587
1977	65	318	73%	66,562
1976	48	256	79%	71,937
1975	1	1	100%	51,519
1971	81	366	63%	130,579

Vauxhall Cavalier reliability FAQ

Across 193,890 Vauxhall Cavalier vehicles in our MOT data, 63% pass the MOT (a 37% failure rate), with about 2.4 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Vauxhall Cavalier MOT issues are: Oil leak; Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7); Fuel pipe/s corroded.

The typical Vauxhall Cavalier in our data has covered around 128,354 miles.

Compare the Vauxhall Cavalier

See how the Vauxhall Cavalier stacks up against other Vauxhall models on MOT reliability:

Cavalier vs Astra Cavalier vs Corsa Cavalier vs Vectra Cavalier vs Zafira

Check a specific Vauxhall Cavalier

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