2005 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,224 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Volkswagen Caddy, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.8% was above the average for vans of a similar age (70.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.9% | 2,123 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 2,114 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 1,684 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 1,540 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 1,014 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 937 |
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 | 1,069 |
| 2 | Joints | 913 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 687 |
| 4 | Flexible brake hoses | 661 |
| 5 | Washers | 652 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 591 |
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 | 38.3% | 5,440 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.5% | 4,048 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.2% | 3,871 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 2,568 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 2,425 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.0% | 2,414 |
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 | 115 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 598 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,794 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,037 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 8,625 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,168 | 28.2% |
| Petrol | 56 | 21.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,410 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 3,207 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 2,868 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 2,520 | 27.6% |
| 2025 | 2,219 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Caddy
Before buying a 2005 Volkswagen Caddy, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 14.9% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (14.9% 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 (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.8% 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 2005 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 14,224 2005 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.9%).
Does the 2005 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.2% in the 30-60k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,224 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.