2001 Caterham Seven S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Caterham Seven S3 passed 87.6% of its 266 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.0% of the time, so this is 14.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests against 5.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, registration plate lamp(s) and steering rack — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 22 times.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 16.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 22 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 14 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.6% | 7 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 5 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.5% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 22 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 6 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 6 |
| 4 | Wipers | 5 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 5 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 5 |
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 | 16.9% | 45 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.3% | 22 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.5% | 12 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.1% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 10 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.0% | 8 |
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 | 165 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 91 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 58 | 17.2% |
| 2023 | 48 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 54 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 51 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Seven S3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (2.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Caterham Seven S3s pass their MOT?
87.6% of the 266 2001 Caterham Seven S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Caterham Seven S3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.3%).
Does the 2001 Seven S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 19.8% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 266 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.