2002 Caterham Seven S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 384 MOT tests, the 2002 Caterham Seven S3 recorded an 89.1% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the 2002 Seven S3 comes out 16.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.8%) and emissions & environmental (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, registration plates and wheel bearings — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 17 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 14.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.8% in 2021 to 10.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 26 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 15 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.1% | 8 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.8% | 7 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.0% | 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 | 17 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 10 |
| 3 | Wheel bearings | 7 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 7 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 7 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 6 |
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 | 14.6% | 56 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.6% | 33 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 20 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.4% | 17 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.9% | 15 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 11 |
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 | 208 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 158 | 7.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 78 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 81 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 80 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 69 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 76 | 10.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Seven S3
On a 2002 Seven S3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Other defects (2.1% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 2002 Caterham Seven S3s pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 384 2002 Caterham Seven S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Caterham Seven S3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.9%).
Does the 2002 Seven S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 7.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 384 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.