2008 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 36,770 MOT tests, the 2008 Volkswagen Caddy recorded a 74.7% pass rate. That is 3.5 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 28.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.8% of tests against 11.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, joints and washers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 2,552 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.7% in the 0-30k band and 25.9% in the 150k+ band, a 12.2-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.8% | 5,439 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 4,304 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 2,890 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.6% | 2,789 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 2,627 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 1,946 |
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 | 2,552 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,177 |
| 3 | Washers | 1,990 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,648 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,436 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,353 |
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 | 37.8% | 13,891 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.1% | 10,324 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.4% | 9,353 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 5,752 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 5,658 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 5,368 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 73 | 13.7% |
| 30-60k | 615 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,530 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 5,892 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 9,102 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 18,545 | 25.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 36,644 | 25.3% |
| Petrol | 126 | 15.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,075 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 7,820 | 25.4% |
| 2023 | 7,449 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 7,021 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 6,405 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Caddy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.8% 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 (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2008 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
74.7% of the 36,770 2008 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.7%).
Does the 2008 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.7% in the 0-30k band to 25.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,770 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.