2001 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,240 MOT tests, the 2001 Volkswagen Caddy recorded a 66.5% pass rate. That is 3.6 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (19.3%) and brakes (19.1%) 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, service brake performance and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 194 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 36.0% versus 28.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 46.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.5% in 2021 to 30.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.3% | 239 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.1% | 237 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 221 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.1% | 199 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 87 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 73 |
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 | 194 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 139 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 97 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 97 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 91 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 90 |
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 | 46.8% | 580 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.3% | 388 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.9% | 383 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.1% | 311 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 178 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.9% | 172 |
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 | 152 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 298 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 359 | 34.5% |
| 150k+ | 383 | 36.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,197 | 33.8% |
| Petrol | 40 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 377 | 34.5% |
| 2022 | 300 | 33.3% |
| 2023 | 241 | 33.2% |
| 2024 | 186 | 34.4% |
| 2025 | 136 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Caddy
On a 2001 Caddy, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (19.3% 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.
- Brakes (19.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2001 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
66.5% of the 1,240 2001 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by brakes (19.1%).
Does the 2001 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.3% in the 60-90k band to 36.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,240 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.