What year Vauxhall Cavalier Sr I is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 1985 Vauxhall Cavalier Sr I has the highest pass rate at 100.0%, out of 14,535 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Vauxhall Cavalier Sr I MOT failures?

The most common Vauxhall Cavalier Sr I 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 Sr I — Reliability by Year

66,032 vehicles · MOT data 1982–1988 · first-test pass rates

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

1985

100.0% pass rate · 14,535 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1987

75.0% pass rate · 7,365 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
1988	93.3%	41,754 mi	5,492
1987	75.0%	93,875 mi	7,365
1986	87.5%	82,180 mi	11,476
1985	100.0%	60,258 mi	14,535
1984	—	—	14,675
1983	100.0%	19,793 mi	12,013
1982	—	—	476

Which year Vauxhall Cavalier Sr I 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 19,793 miles (newest year) to 93,875 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 Sr I.

See the buying guide →

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