1989 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
264 MOT tests on the 1989 Volkswagen Caddy are in this dataset, and 74.2% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (28.8% fail rate), the 1989 Caddy comes out 3.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.1% of all tests — 12.1 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rear fog lamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 44 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 33.3% in the 60-90k band and 26.0% in the 150k+ band, a 7.4-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.0% in 2021 to 27.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.1% | 61 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 29 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.0% | 29 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.7% | 23 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.5% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 44 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 21 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 20 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 19 |
| 6 | Joints | 14 |
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 | 23.9% | 63 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.1% | 61 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.7% | 60 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.7% | 31 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.1% | 24 |
| 6 | Tyres | 8.0% | 21 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 39 | 33.3% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 44 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 77 | 26.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 153 | 24.8% |
| Diesel | 111 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 54 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 49 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 51 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 48 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 1989 Caddy
On a 1989 Caddy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (11.0% 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 1989 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 264 1989 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Volkswagen Caddy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.0%).
Does the 1989 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.3% in the 60-90k band to 26.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 264 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.