2013 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 78,305 MOT tests, the 2013 Volkswagen Caddy recorded a 78.9% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (24.4% fail rate), the 2013 Caddy comes out 3.3pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 11.9% of tests against 7.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and washers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 6,593 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.8% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.9% | 9,317 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 5,634 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.4% | 5,019 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.7% | 4,468 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 4,329 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 1,539 |
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 | 6,593 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3,115 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,778 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,711 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 2,164 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,793 |
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 | 27.5% | 21,533 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.2% | 18,166 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.7% | 16,963 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.8% | 6,910 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 6,373 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.0% | 4,710 |
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 | 937 | 13.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,772 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 17,789 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 21,157 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 16,126 | 22.5% |
| 150k+ | 15,472 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 78,193 | 21.1% |
| Petrol | 109 | 17.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,559 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 15,736 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 15,794 | 21.2% |
| 2024 | 15,709 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 15,507 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Caddy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 11.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (11.9% 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 (7.2% 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 2013 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 78,305 2013 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 11.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.2%).
Does the 2013 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 78,305 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.