Does the Vauxhall Cavalier fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Vauxhall Cavalier records 18.68 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 15.26 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+3.42, 95% interval +2.51 to +4.32). It ranks 126 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Vauxhall Cavalier by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Vauxhall Cavalier is “A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated”, recorded 309 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 309 | 3.51 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 249 | 2.83 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 247 | 2.81 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 241 | 2.74 |
| Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 214 | 2.43 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 8,791 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Vauxhall Cavalier gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
20.1% of Vauxhall Cavalier MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 1,186 miles later (667 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 667 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Vauxhall Cavalier by postcode area · Vauxhall Cavalier brakes failures · Vauxhall Cavalier vehicle identification failures · Vauxhall Cavalier lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Vauxhall Cavalier noise, emissions and leaks failures · Vauxhall Cavalier seat belts and airbags failures · Vauxhall Cavalier steering failures · Vauxhall Cavalier suspension failures · Vauxhall Cavalier tyres failures · Vauxhall Cavalier visibility failures