2006 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,974 MOT tests, the 2006 Volkswagen Caddy recorded a 72.6% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (29.5% fail rate), the 2006 Caddy comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.0%) and lighting & signalling (14.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, joints and washers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,540 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.3% in the 0-30k band and 27.6% in the 150k+ band, a 4.4-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.8% in 2021 to 26.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.0% | 3,144 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 3,055 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.4% | 2,176 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 2,175 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.9% | 1,660 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 1,435 |
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 | 1,540 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,355 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,222 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,077 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 862 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 847 |
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 | 37.9% | 7,941 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.2% | 5,909 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.8% | 5,414 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 3,898 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.7% | 3,713 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 3,565 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 43 | 23.3% |
| 30-60k | 345 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,109 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,730 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 4,857 | 27.8% |
| 150k+ | 11,875 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,839 | 27.5% |
| Petrol | 135 | 16.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,941 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 4,677 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 4,224 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 3,820 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 3,312 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Caddy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.0% 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 (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.4% 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 2006 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 20,974 2006 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.6%).
Does the 2006 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,974 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.