What year Vauxhall Cavalier Gl is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier Gl has the highest pass rate at 100.0%, out of 14,171 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Vauxhall Cavalier Gl MOT failures?

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

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Vauxhall Cavalier Gl — Reliability by Year

123,246 vehicles · MOT data 1980–1994 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Vauxhall Cavalier Gl 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

1989

100.0% pass rate · 14,171 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1980

100.0% pass rate · 12,254 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
1994	—	—	203
1993	—	—	288
1992	—	—	6,820
1991	—	—	11,902
1990	—	—	18,735
1989	100.0%	33,651 mi	14,171
1988	—	—	5,755
1987	—	—	5,741
1986	—	—	6,510
1985	—	—	7,996
1984	—	—	8,442
1983	—	—	7,702
1982	—	—	9,619
1981	100.0%	34,191 mi	7,108
1980	100.0%	21,569 mi	12,254

Which year Vauxhall Cavalier Gl is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests.

Tests range from an average of 21,569 miles (newest year) to 34,191 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 Vauxhall Cavalier Gl.

See the buying guide →

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