2004 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
8,832 MOT tests on the 2004 Volkswagen Caddy are in this dataset, and 71.4% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 29.9% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.6%) and lighting & signalling (16.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and joints — pins and bushes alone was recorded 800 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.7% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.9% in 2021 to 27.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.6% | 1,465 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 1,414 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.0% | 1,061 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 968 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 590 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.6% | 496 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 800 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 510 |
| 3 | Joints | 502 |
| 4 | Flexible brake hoses | 374 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 355 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 345 |
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 | 39.9% | 3,525 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.2% | 2,575 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.5% | 2,514 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 1,674 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 1,429 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 1,368 |
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 | 68 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 364 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,064 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,952 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 5,336 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,244 | 29.9% |
| 2022 | 1,995 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 1,791 | 28.7% |
| 2024 | 1,522 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 1,280 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Caddy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.6% 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 (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.0% 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 2004 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 8,832 2004 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.0%).
Does the 2004 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 30-60k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,832 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.