2012 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
62,790 MOT tests on the 2012 Volkswagen Caddy are in this dataset, and 77.9% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), the 2012 Caddy comes out 3.5pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.2% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,347 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.5% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.2% | 8,283 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 5,067 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.4% | 4,033 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.1% | 3,838 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 3,285 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 1,786 |
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 | 5,347 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,390 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,369 |
| 4 | Washers | 1,915 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 1,832 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,709 |
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 | 28.0% | 17,581 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.5% | 14,745 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.2% | 14,548 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.8% | 6,134 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 5,859 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 4,491 |
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 | 717 | 14.1% |
| 30-60k | 3,173 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 9,412 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 15,916 | 22.3% |
| 120-150k | 15,466 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 18,085 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 62,582 | 22.1% |
| Petrol | 206 | 16.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,736 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 12,840 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 12,711 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 12,434 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 12,069 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Caddy
On a 2012 Caddy, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.2% 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 (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2012 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
77.9% of the 62,790 2012 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.1%).
Does the 2012 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 62,790 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.