2015 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
73,312 MOT tests on the 2015 Volkswagen Caddy are in this dataset, and 81.5% of them passed. That is 2.9 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 21.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.6%) and lighting & signalling (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and washers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,166 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.4% in the 0-30k band and 21.5% in the 150k+ band, a 10.2-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.6% | 5,600 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 5,052 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 4,807 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.4% | 3,973 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.6% | 3,365 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 1,426 |
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 | 5,166 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,855 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,408 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,257 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,940 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,892 |
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 | 26.3% | 19,244 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.7% | 15,876 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.8% | 11,570 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.4% | 5,443 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 5,016 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 4,722 |
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 | 3,081 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 15,663 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 22,262 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 16,275 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 9,166 | 22.0% |
| 150k+ | 6,857 | 21.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 73,275 | 18.5% |
| Petrol | 37 | 18.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,431 | 15.3% |
| 2022 | 14,402 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 14,817 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 14,822 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 14,840 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Caddy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.6% 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 (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.6% 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 2015 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 73,312 2015 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Volkswagen Caddy?
Suspension, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.9%).
Does the 2015 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 73,312 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.