2003 Volkswagen Caravelle MOT pass rate: 61.6% (1,705 tests)
Is the 2003 Caravelle getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 62.0% -2.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 61.6% -3.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 61.3% -4.9 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 Caravelle
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 572 | 24.2% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 476 | 20.1% |
| 3 | Suspension | 421 | 17.8% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 280 | 11.8% |
| 5 | Steering | 192 | 8.1% |
| 6 | Tyres | 135 | 5.7% |
All Caravelle years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,907 | 64.2% | -2.5 pts | 188,702 |
| 2002 | 2,076 | 63.1% | -2.7 pts | 192,110 |
| 2003 (this page) | 1,705 | 61.6% | -3.5 pts | 186,544 |
| 2004 | 1,505 | 60.9% | -3.5 pts | 168,344 |
| 2005 | 1,964 | 60.5% | -4.0 pts | 162,911 |
| 2006 | 1,755 | 61.0% | -3.5 pts | 158,163 |
| 2007 | 1,722 | 62.8% | -2.4 pts | 142,395 |
| 2008 | 1,665 | 63.1% | -2.1 pts | 134,146 |
| 2010 | 1,795 | 69.0% | +1.7 pts | 113,536 |
| 2011 | 1,964 | 72.1% | +3.0 pts | 104,546 |
| 2012 | 2,410 | 75.1% | +3.9 pts | 100,332 |
| 2013 | 2,073 | 76.0% | +2.7 pts | 87,812 |
| 2014 | 1,848 | 75.4% | -0.4 pts | 81,291 |
| 2015 | 2,122 | 75.2% | -3.6 pts | 78,414 |
| 2016 | 3,027 | 76.4% | -4.9 pts | 71,047 |
| 2017 | 2,883 | 79.7% | -4.3 pts | 63,592 |
| 2018 | 1,933 | 80.9% | -5.5 pts | 50,238 |
| 2019 | 2,090 | 83.5% | -4.8 pts | 42,443 |
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Volkswagen Caravelle reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 61.6% of their MOT tests (1,705 tests, 2023–2025), -3.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 186,544 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 Caravelle?
The median tested example shows 186,544 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.