1990 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1990 Volkswagen Caddy passed 76.6% of its 402 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.8 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.1% of all tests — 7.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 55 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 25.4% versus 21.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 25.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 77 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.4% | 46 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.9% | 44 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.0% | 40 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 19 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 15 |
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 | 55 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 19 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 19 |
| 5 | Horn | 18 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 16 |
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 | 25.1% | 101 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.4% | 98 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.4% | 66 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 52 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 48 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.2% | 41 |
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 | 38 | 21.1% |
| 90-120k | 63 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 113 | 24.8% |
| 150k+ | 138 | 25.4% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 270 | 21.1% |
| Petrol | 132 | 28.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 91 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 80 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 82 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 78 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 71 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Caddy
On a 1990 Caddy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.9% 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+.
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 1990 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 402 1990 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Volkswagen Caddy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by suspension (11.4%).
Does the 1990 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.1% in the 60-90k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 402 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.