Vauxhall Carlton MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Vauxhall Carlton. Check any Carlton by registration number below.

Free, instant, no sign-up required.

86.3%

Avg Pass Rate

+4.4%

vs Vauxhall Avg

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

Vauxhall Carlton — MOT Reliability Overview

The Vauxhall Carlton has an average MOT pass rate of 86.3%, which is 4.4 percentage points above the Vauxhall brand average of 82.0%. This is a strong result, indicating that the Carlton is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a Vauxhall Carlton fails its MOT are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. If you are preparing your Carlton for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Vauxhall Carlton, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Vauxhall Carlton performs at MOT across different model years.

1994

Based on 51 vehicles

76.5%Good

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

3.0%

Retest Rate

18.2%

1993

Based on 253 vehicles

81.8%Good

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

3.4%

Retest Rate

12.4%

1992

Based on 111 vehicles

90.1%Excellent

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

11.0%

1991

Based on 166 vehicles

89.8%Excellent

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

1.6%

1990

Based on 37 vehicles

89.2%Excellent

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

3.8%

1989

Based on 33 vehicles

84.8%Good

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

9.1%

Retest Rate

9.1%

1988

Based on 35 vehicles

91.4%Excellent

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

4.0%

0

Based on 251 vehicles

86.9%Excellent

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Mileage at 5yr

94k mi

Top MOT Failures — Vauxhall Carlton

The most common reasons a Vauxhall Carlton fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

7.1%

Vauxhall Carlton Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Rear Offside

11.8%

Offside

7.8%

Nearside

3.9%

Other Vauxhall Models

Compare MOT reliability across Vauxhall models.

Vauxhall Corsa Elite Turbo D

94.0% pass rate

Vauxhall Corsa Se Edition Turbo Auto

94.7% pass rate

Vauxhall Corsa

80.5% pass rate

Vauxhall Insig Sri Nav Vxred Cdtieco Ss

87.5% pass rate

Vauxhall Astra Business Edition Nav T

90.3% pass rate

Vauxhall Signum

70.2% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Vauxhall Carlton

Vauxhall Carlton — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Vauxhall Carlton MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Carlton?

The average MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Carlton is 86.3% compared to the Vauxhall average of 82.0%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Carlton?

The most common MOT failures on the Vauxhall Carlton are: The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired (7.1%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the Vauxhall Carlton reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 86.3%, the Vauxhall Carlton is rated as "Excellent" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Vauxhall Carlton?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Vauxhall Carlton?

Typical mileage for the Vauxhall Carlton: 93,684 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Carlton to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Vauxhall Carlton's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.