2003 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Volkswagen Caddy passed 69.5% of its 2,373 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail at 30.0%, so the 2003 Caddy sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.9%) and brakes (16.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, service brake performance and component mounting prescribed areas — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 212 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 44.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 402 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 402 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.7% | 348 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 279 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.1% | 169 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.9% | 163 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 212 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 201 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 182 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 170 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 156 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 154 |
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 | 44.7% | 1,061 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.5% | 724 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.8% | 635 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.7% | 514 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.9% | 378 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 285 |
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 | 100 | 19.0% |
| 60-90k | 341 | 29.6% |
| 90-120k | 495 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 623 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 788 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 696 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 562 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 456 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 380 | 34.0% |
| 2025 | 279 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Caddy
On a 2003 Caddy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.9% 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.
- Suspension (14.7% 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 2003 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 2,373 2003 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Volkswagen Caddy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by brakes (16.9%).
Does the 2003 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.0% in the 30-60k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,373 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.