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Volkswagen Caravelle steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 3,518 MOT tests · Updated

At 6 years, 0.3 in 100 MOT tests of the Volkswagen Caravelle failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 3,518 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 11 MOT tests with a fail
  • When it starts: clear of 1.2 times from 19 years and at every older age seen
  • MOT tests at 6 years: 3,518 for the Volkswagen Caravelle

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.3 fails per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The Volkswagen Caravelle is a commercial or van-based vehicle: it is compared with all class 4 vehicles, cars and vans together, so part of any difference can come from how vans are used.

Volkswagen Caravelle steering fails by age

Volkswagen Caravelle steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Volkswagen Caravelle. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.05103 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 2,174 MOT tests34 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 2,716 MOT tests5 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 3,188 MOT tests56 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 3,518 MOT tests7 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 3,364 MOT tests78 years: 1.1 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 3,360 MOT tests9 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 3,086 MOT tests910 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 2,854 MOT tests11 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 2,832 MOT tests1112 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 2,788 MOT tests13 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 2,522 MOT tests1314 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 2,247 MOT tests15 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 2,193 MOT tests1516 years: 2.4 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 2,197 MOT tests17 years: 2.6 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 2,466 MOT tests1718 years: 3.4 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 2,413 MOT tests19 years: 5.8 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 2,385 MOT tests1920 years: 7.1 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 2,498 MOT tests21 years: 8.7 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 2,484 MOT tests2122 years: 8.9 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 2,499 MOT tests23 years: 9.3 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 2,335 MOT tests2324 years: 9.9 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 2,049 MOT tests25 years: 8.4 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 1,805 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Volkswagen Caravelle All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
32,1740.00.1
42,7160.30.2
53,1880.30.3
63,5180.30.5
73,3640.60.8
83,3601.11.2
93,0861.61.8
102,8542.52.1
112,8321.62.5
122,7881.82.8
132,5222.12.9
142,2472.33.2
152,1932.33.3
162,1972.43.4
172,4662.63.6
182,4133.43.9
19*2,3855.84.1
20*2,4987.14.2
21*2,4848.74.2
22*2,4998.94.0
23*2,3359.33.9
24*2,0499.93.7
25*1,8058.43.7

All first-use years of the Volkswagen Caravelle pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 6 years

Advisories (not fails)

Buying a Volkswagen Caravelle? Check that exact car before the viewing.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Play in steering rack inner joint(s).

Check one Volkswagen Caravelle, not the average

The figures here describe Volkswagen Caravelle cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Volkswagen Caravelle problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Volkswagen Caravelle have more steering problems than other cars?

0.3 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 3,518 MOT tests).

How common are Volkswagen Caravelle steering problems?

0.3 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 3,518 MOT tests).

At what age do Volkswagen Caravelle steering fails start?

19 years: from then on the rate stays clear of 1.2 times all class 4 vehicles the same age at every age seen, 16,055 MOT tests.

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 59,973 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare