2007 Caterham Seven S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 263 MOT tests, the 2007 Caterham Seven S3 recorded an 88.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 15.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.7%) and emissions & environmental (3.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, steering rack and stop lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 16 times.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 11.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 15 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 10 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.7% | 7 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.7% | 7 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 3 |
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 | 16 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 10 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 5 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 4 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 4 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 3 |
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 | 11.8% | 31 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.2% | 19 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 8 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 8 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.9% | 5 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.9% | 5 |
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 | 193 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 68 | 17.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 54 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 56 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 51 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 47 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Seven S3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (2.7% 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 2007 Caterham Seven S3s pass their MOT?
88.2% of the 263 2007 Caterham Seven S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Caterham Seven S3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.8%).
Does the 2007 Seven S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 17.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 263 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.