2010 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 60,668 MOT tests, the 2010 Volkswagen Caddy recorded a 74.5% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the 2010 Caddy comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.0% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, ball joint dust cover and washers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 4,739 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.0% versus 18.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.0% | 9,128 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 6,886 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 4,999 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.4% | 3,873 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.3% | 3,810 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 2,836 |
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 | 4,739 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 2,740 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,682 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,376 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,368 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 2,133 |
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 | 35.8% | 21,726 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.3% | 17,764 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.5% | 14,857 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 8,523 |
| 5 | Visibility | 10.5% | 6,400 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 6,270 |
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 | 338 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,185 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,445 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 12,864 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 15,180 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 23,625 | 26.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 60,450 | 25.5% |
| Petrol | 130 | 21.5% |
| Gas/LPG | 88 | 14.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,606 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 12,582 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 12,356 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 11,889 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 11,235 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Caddy
On a 2010 Caddy, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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 2010 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 60,668 2010 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.3%).
Does the 2010 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 0-30k band to 26.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,668 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.