Vauxhall Carlton (1993)
1993 Vauxhall Carlton
CarHunch analysed 4,421 real MOT records for the 1993 Vauxhall Carlton. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1993 Vauxhall Carlton is significantly less reliable than the UK average: only 66.4% pass their MOT first time, compared to 80% nationally, and one in eight have recorded dangerous defects during their test history. Petrol and diesel versions perform similarly poorly, both sitting in the mid-60s for pass rates.
At 130,500 miles median, these Carltons have typical mileage for their age, yet they're averaging 1.5 failures and 4.4 advisories per test, suggesting age-related wear is catching up fast. If you're considering one, budget for repairs and get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and rust—the most common failure patterns in cars of this era and condition.
What to check before buying a 1993 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 (93%) | 4,118 | 66.5% | 1.51 |
| Diesel (7%) | 297 | 64% | 1.37 |
| LPG (0%) | 6 | 81.4% | 1.17 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1993 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.
Half of all 1993 Vauxhall Carlton vehicles fall between 107,774 and 154,255 miles.
1993 Vauxhall Carlton — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 67 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (30% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1993 Vauxhall Carlton
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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19%
Oil leak
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17.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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17.7%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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17.4%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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16.5%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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16%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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12.8%
Fuel pipe/s corroded
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11.8%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1993. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Vauxhall Carlton?
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