What year Opel Kadett is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 1981 Opel Kadett has the highest pass rate at 76.8%, out of 548 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Opel Kadett MOT failures?

The most common Opel Kadett MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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Opel Kadett — Reliability by Year

6,533 vehicles · MOT data 1980–1991 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Opel Kadett was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

1981

76.8% pass rate · 548 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1986

47.3% pass rate · 563 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
1991	50.9%	53,843 mi	176
1990	61.7%	65,696 mi	200
1989	62.5%	66,770 mi	249
1988	72.2%	40,624 mi	263
1987	69.4%	74,794 mi	279
1986	47.3%	32,689 mi	563
1985	68.1%	59,710 mi	869
1984	64.5%	84,542 mi	669
1983	59.4%	53,839 mi	987
1982	67.8%	62,120 mi	1,342
1981	76.8%	49,878 mi	548
1980	75.2%	38,508 mi	388

Which year Opel Kadett is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.

Tests range from an average of 32,689 miles (newest year) to 84,542 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a Opel Kadett.

See the buying guide →

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