Caterham 7 MOT pass rate & common failures
1,372 MOT tests on the Caterham 7 (1987–2021) give it a 90.1% pass rate. That is 15.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.0%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests against 2.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, stop lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 38 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 7 fails 10.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.4% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 8.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.1% in 2021 to 7.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 7 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 32 | 96.9% | 3.1% | Other defects |
| 1994 | 43 | 86.1% | 14.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 50 | 88.0% | 12.0% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 59 | 83.0% | 17.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 102 | 92.2% | 7.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1998 | 92 | 93.5% | 6.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 61 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 71 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2001 | 60 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 55 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 72 | 95.8% | 4.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 46 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 71 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 30 | 96.7% | 3.3% | Visibility |
| 2007 | 61 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2008 | 66 | 84.9% | 15.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 42 | 92.9% | 7.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 62 | 90.3% | 9.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2011 | 80 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 65 | 84.6% | 15.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 83 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 40 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 34 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.3% | 18 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.1% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.0% | 14 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.8% | 11 |
| 8 | Tyres | 0.5% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 38 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 26 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 25 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 15 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 14 |
| 7 | Rear fog lamp | 13 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.5% | 117 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 67 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 49 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 49 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.8% | 38 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.0% | 27 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,028 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 272 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 54 | 7.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 289 | 12.1% |
| 2022 | 291 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 278 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 263 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 251 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a Caterham 7
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (2.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Caterham 7?
90.1% of the 1,372 Caterham 7 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.9% fail rate, across model years 1987–2021.
What does the Caterham 7 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, then brakes (2.9%).
How much does mileage affect 7 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 10.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 7.4% for 60-90k, a 2.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,372 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.