2008 Caterham Seven S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Caterham Seven S3 passed 92.9% of its 266 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.4% of the time, so this is 19.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 5.6% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, ball joint dust cover and rear fog lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 7 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 11.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 8.0% in 2021 to 1.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 15 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.3% | 6 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 3 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 3 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.1% | 3 |
| 6 | Tyres | 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 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 5 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 4 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 4 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 3 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 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 | 11.3% | 30 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 15 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.3% | 14 |
| 4 | Steering | 3.8% | 10 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.1% | 3 |
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 | 223 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 40 | 7.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 53 | 7.5% |
| 2023 | 58 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 48 | 4.2% |
| 2025 | 57 | 1.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Seven S3
On a 2008 Seven S3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.3% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.1% 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
How many 2008 Caterham Seven S3s pass their MOT?
92.9% of the 266 2008 Caterham Seven S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Caterham Seven S3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by suspension (2.3%).
Does the 2008 Seven S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 7.5% 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.