1999 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Volkswagen Caddy passed 71.3% of its 1,200 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (29.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.4%) and lighting & signalling (13.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 219 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.6% in the 30-60k band and 31.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.3-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.7% in 2021 to 25.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.4% | 197 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 167 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 162 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 151 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 55 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.3% | 52 |
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 | 219 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 71 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 70 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 69 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 67 |
| 6 | Joints | 66 |
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 | 39.3% | 471 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.9% | 455 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.5% | 282 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.3% | 267 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.9% | 239 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.8% | 154 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 59 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 303 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 266 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 208 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 339 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,153 | 28.7% |
| Petrol | 47 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 321 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 286 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 242 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 198 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 153 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Caddy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.5% 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 1999 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 1,200 1999 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.9%).
Does the 1999 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.6% in the 30-60k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,200 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.