Caterham Seven MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 40 model years and 1,409 tests, the Caterham Seven passes its MOT 91.5% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 24.8% of the time, so this is 16.3pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests against 2.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and stop lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 49 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.2% in the 0-30k band and 14.6% in the 60-90k band, a 6.5-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 9.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Seven model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 34 | 97.1% | 2.9% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 31 | 90.3% | 9.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 50 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 55 | 96.4% | 3.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 112 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 42 | 95.2% | 4.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 66 | 93.9% | 6.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 62 | 82.3% | 17.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 56 | 89.3% | 10.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 62 | 95.2% | 4.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2003 | 71 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 42 | 95.2% | 4.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 50 | 88.0% | 12.0% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 33 | 97.0% | 3.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 102 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 101 | 92.1% | 7.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2009 | 55 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 47 | 83.0% | 17.0% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2011 | 87 | 93.1% | 6.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 83 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 95 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 36 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.1% | 30 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.3% | 18 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.9% | 13 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.8% | 11 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.6% | 9 |
| 8 | Tyres | 0.6% | 9 |
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 | 49 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 27 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 19 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 15 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 13 |
| 7 | Side repeaters | 11 |
| 8 | Steering rack | 11 |
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 | 9.9% | 139 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.1% | 72 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.8% | 53 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 42 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.6% | 37 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.3% | 33 |
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 | 1,068 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 288 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 41 | 14.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 304 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 279 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 300 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 256 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 270 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a Caterham Seven
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (2.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Caterham Seven?
91.5% of the 1,409 Caterham Seven MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.5% fail rate, across model years 1982–2021.
What does the Caterham Seven most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests, then emissions & environmental (2.6%).
How much does mileage affect Seven MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 14.6% for 60-90k, a 6.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,409 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.