What year Vauxhall Cavalier L is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier L has the highest pass rate at 100.0%, out of 26,570 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Vauxhall Cavalier L MOT failures?

The most common Vauxhall Cavalier L 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 L — Reliability by Year

352,285 vehicles · MOT data 1980–1992 · first-test pass rates

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

1992

100.0% pass rate · 26,570 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1990

50.0% pass rate · 49,567 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
1992	100.0%	143,222 mi	26,570
1991	91.7%	189,331 mi	35,584
1990	50.0%	54,811 mi	49,567
1989	—	—	44,236
1988	83.8%	45,447 mi	19,938
1987	—	—	16,715
1986	—	—	18,049
1985	—	—	23,742
1984	100.0%	60,693 mi	31,075
1983	100.0%	32,520 mi	27,889
1982	—	—	26,390
1981	—	—	13,733
1980	88.9%	39,863 mi	18,797

Which year Vauxhall Cavalier L 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 32,520 miles (newest year) to 189,331 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 L.

See the buying guide →

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