2023 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Volkswagen Caddy passed 89.0% of its 502 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (8.4% fail rate), the 2023 Caddy comes out 2.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.4%) and tyres (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 28 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.1% versus 4.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 27 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.0% | 25 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.8% | 19 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.8% | 14 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 11 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.6% | 8 |
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 | 28 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 23 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 14 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 10 |
| 5 | Wipers | 9 |
| 6 | Washers | 8 |
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 | 21.7% | 109 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 60 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.4% | 47 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.0% | 30 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.8% | 19 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 5 |
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 | 171 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 196 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 105 | 17.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 447 | 11.2% |
| Petrol | 55 | 9.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 119 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 376 | 11.2% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Caddy
On a 2023 Caddy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Brakes (3.8% 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 2023 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 502 2023 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Volkswagen Caddy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.0%).
Does the 2023 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 17.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 502 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.