2014 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Volkswagen Caddy passed 80.2% of its 73,796 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (23.0% fail rate), the 2014 Caddy comes out 3.2pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 10.2% of all tests — 3.2 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 washers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,769 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.4% versus 12.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.2% | 7,492 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 5,127 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.4% | 4,693 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 3,905 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.0% | 3,678 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 1,451 |
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 | 5,769 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,829 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,475 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,384 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,969 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,742 |
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 | 27.0% | 19,910 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.6% | 16,673 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.1% | 14,058 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.4% | 6,212 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 5,745 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 4,301 |
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 | 1,747 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 8,618 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 18,816 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 20,056 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 13,488 | 22.5% |
| 150k+ | 11,050 | 22.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,521 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 14,790 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 14,834 | 19.9% |
| 2024 | 14,949 | 21.9% |
| 2025 | 14,702 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Caddy
On a 2014 Caddy, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.2% 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 (7.0% 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 2014 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 73,796 2014 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.0%).
Does the 2014 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 22.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 73,796 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.