2011 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Volkswagen Caddy passed 76.6% of its 78,308 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (26.7% fail rate), the 2011 Caddy comes out 3.3pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.9% of tests against 8.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 6,584 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.0% in the 0-30k band and 24.2% in the 150k+ band, a 5.2-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.9% | 10,910 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 6,628 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 5,960 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 5,118 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 4,009 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 2,291 |
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 | 6,584 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,319 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,026 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,411 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 2,299 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 2,275 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.5% | 22,303 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.0% | 20,378 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.8% | 18,598 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 9,037 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 8,006 |
| 6 | Visibility | 9.6% | 7,532 |
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 | 610 | 19.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,193 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 12,159 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 20,581 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 19,143 | 24.6% |
| 150k+ | 22,588 | 24.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 77,927 | 23.4% |
| Petrol | 356 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,086 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 16,029 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 16,017 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 15,332 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 14,844 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Caddy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.9% 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 (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.6% 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 2011 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 78,308 2011 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.5%).
Does the 2011 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.0% in the 0-30k band to 24.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 78,308 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.