2010 Caterham Seven S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Caterham Seven S3 passed 93.7% of its 268 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2010 Seven S3 comes out 18.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests against 1.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, stop lamp and side repeaters — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 5 times.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 15 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.5% | 4 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.1% | 3 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.1% | 3 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 3 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 1 |
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 | 5 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 5 |
| 3 | Side repeaters | 4 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 3 |
| 5 | Reversing lamps | 3 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 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 | 6.7% | 18 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.2% | 14 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 9 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.2% | 6 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 5 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 4 |
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 | 243 | 7.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 8.3% |
| 2022 | 52 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 57 | 10.5% |
| 2024 | 47 | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 52 | 7.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Seven S3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Visibility (1.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (1.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2010 Caterham Seven S3s pass their MOT?
93.7% of the 268 2010 Caterham Seven S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Caterham Seven S3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by visibility (1.5%).
Methodology & source. Based on 268 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.