2004 Caterham Seven S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Caterham Seven S3 passed 90.3% of its 383 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 18.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.1% of all tests — 4.7 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and registration plates — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 23 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 10.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 31 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 13 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.6% | 6 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 6 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.6% | 6 |
| 6 | Tyres | 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 | 23 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 7 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 6 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 6 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | 10.2% | 39 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.8% | 26 |
| 3 | Steering | 4.7% | 18 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 10 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 10 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 9 |
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 | 282 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 89 | 15.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 8.1% |
| 2022 | 83 | 13.3% |
| 2023 | 82 | 7.3% |
| 2024 | 73 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 71 | 7.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Seven S3
On a 2004 Seven S3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Other defects (1.6% 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 2004 Caterham Seven S3s pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 383 2004 Caterham Seven S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Caterham Seven S3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.4%).
Does the 2004 Seven S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 15.7% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 383 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.