2021 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
10,591 MOT tests on the 2021 Volkswagen Caddy are in this dataset, and 88.6% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (13.8% fail rate), the 2021 Caddy comes out 2.4pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.8%) and lighting & signalling (3.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 334 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.3% versus 9.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.2% in 2022 to 11.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 619 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 395 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.8% | 300 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 298 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 162 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 112 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 334 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 293 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 258 |
| 4 | Wipers | 185 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 152 |
| 6 | Washers | 146 |
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 | 22.9% | 2,426 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 1,509 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.5% | 684 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 544 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.6% | 377 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 75 |
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 | 3,001 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,489 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,169 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 631 | 12.5% |
| 120-150k | 203 | 16.8% |
| 150k+ | 98 | 15.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 10,145 | 11.5% |
| Petrol | 445 | 11.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 99 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 190 | 12.1% |
| 2024 | 5,195 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 5,094 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Caddy
On a 2021 Caddy, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.8% 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 (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2021 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
88.6% of the 10,591 2021 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Caddy?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.7%).
Does the 2021 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 15.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,591 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.