2018 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
61,677 MOT tests on the 2018 Volkswagen Caddy are in this dataset, and 87.2% of them passed. That is 3.4 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 16.2%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.2%) and lighting & signalling (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 1,981 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.8% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.2pp more often than petrol ones (13.0% vs 10.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 3,194 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 3,000 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 2,134 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 2,113 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.8% | 1,700 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.5% | 1,528 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,981 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,636 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,570 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,567 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,394 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,191 |
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 | 22.7% | 13,985 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.5% | 9,567 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 3,971 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.1% | 3,745 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.3% | 3,276 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 2,170 |
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 | 12,140 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 21,005 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 14,812 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 8,029 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 3,471 | 16.4% |
| 150k+ | 2,218 | 16.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 55,150 | 13.0% |
| Petrol | 6,527 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,280 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 12,312 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 12,413 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 12,381 | 14.2% |
| 2025 | 12,291 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Caddy
On a 2018 Caddy, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2018 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 61,677 2018 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volkswagen Caddy?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.9%).
Does the 2018 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 61,677 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.