Vauxhall Carlton (1984)

228 real MOT outcomes analysed • 20.3% first-time pass rate

1984 Vauxhall Carlton

CarHunch analysed 228 real MOT records for the 1984 Vauxhall Carlton. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 59.7% below UK average
20.3%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
62,368
typical mileage
39,171–80,654 middle half
3.5%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.32
avg MOT failures per car
over 2.1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1984 Vauxhall Carlton

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Vauxhall Carlton

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (96%) 220 20.8% 0.32
Diesel (4%) 8 6.3% 0.25

Mileage Distribution

Most 1984 Vauxhall Carlton vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

39,171
low mileage
62,368
typical
80,654
high mileage

Half of all 1984 Vauxhall Carlton vehicles fall between 39,171 and 80,654 miles.

MOT History Averages

2.1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.32
Avg failures per vehicle
1.3
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1984 Vauxhall Carlton

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 27.4%
    Oil leak
  • 14%
    Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 12.7%
    Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 12.7%
    Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 12.7%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 12.1%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 9.6%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 9.6%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1984. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Vauxhall Carlton?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Vauxhall Carlton:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994