1997 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
299 MOT tests on the 1997 Volkswagen Caddy are in this dataset, and 73.2% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (29.6% fail rate), the 1997 Caddy comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.4% of tests against 15.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and stop lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 64 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.7% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 29.3% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.6% in 2021 to 17.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.4% | 64 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 45 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 33 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.4% | 28 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.3% | 16 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 16 |
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 | 64 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 23 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 20 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 16 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 33.1% | 99 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.1% | 84 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.7% | 68 |
| 4 | Tyres | 20.1% | 60 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 37 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.4% | 34 |
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 | 76 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 79 | 25.3% |
| 120-150k | 77 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 41 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 32.6% |
| 2022 | 61 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 62 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 49 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 41 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Caddy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.0% 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.
- 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+.
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 1997 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 299 1997 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Volkswagen Caddy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.4% of tests, followed by suspension (15.0%).
Does the 1997 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.7% in the 60-90k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 299 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.