Volkswagen Caddy MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Pass rate, every year

79.2% Around average

535,307 tests across 24 model years, 2000–2023.

−1.8 pts vs the national average

MOT PASS RATES

How the Volkswagen Caddy really fares

79.2% of its MOTs pass — over 535,307 class-4 tests, 2023–2025

Pass rates

Every figure on this page comes from the DVSA's MOT test record.

The Volkswagen Caddy MOT pass rate is 79.2%, −1.8 percentage points below the UK average. That is 535,307 DVSA MOT tests recorded between 2000 and 2023. This page lists the most common Volkswagen Caddy MOT failures by category, names the best and worst model years, and finishes with a pre-MOT checklist you can run at home.

Check your postcode

MOT pass rates are national — type your postcode to see how Volkswagen Caddy MOT pass rates does in your corner of the country.

How one model's pass rate varies by postcode →

Volkswagen Caddy MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Volkswagen Caddy passed on its first attempt in 74.3%, and its overall record sits −1.8 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Volkswagen Caddy in the 2023–2025 data: 535,307 tests across 24 model years (2000–2023). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

MeasureThis model
Tests analysed535,307
Overall pass rate79.2%
Passed on first attempt74.3%
Average mileage at test114,195 mi
Model years covered2000–2023 (24 years)
Versus UK national average−1.8 pts below

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Volkswagen Caddy MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Volkswagen Caddy, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Inspection section Share of failures Est. recorded instances
Suspension 28% 50,865
Visibility 26% 46,814
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 23% 41,473
Body, chassis, structure 11% 18,863
Tyres 5% 8,822
Noise, emissions and leaks 4% 6,654
Brakes 2% 4,200
Steering 0% 586

Shares are over the Volkswagen Caddy's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Suspension

Around 28% of the recorded Volkswagen Caddy failures fall in the Suspension section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn" (4.5%), "Coil spring fractured or broken" (1.7%), "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (1.1%) among the Volkswagen Caddy's suspension faults.

Visibility

Around 26% of the recorded Volkswagen Caddy failures fall in the Visibility section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (6.5%), "Mirrors slightly damaged" (1.3%), "Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively" (0.6%) among the Volkswagen Caddy's visibility faults.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

Around 23% of the recorded Volkswagen Caddy failures fall in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (6.9%), "Stop lamp not working" (0.6%), "Position lamp not working" (0.2%) among the Volkswagen Caddy's lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment faults.

Top Recorded Volkswagen Caddy DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Volkswagen Caddy, each with how many of the model's 535,307 tests it was noted on.

  • "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 36,793 Volkswagen Caddy tests, 6.9% of the model's MOT record.
  • "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 34,529 Volkswagen Caddy tests, 6.5% of the model's MOT record.
  • "Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 24,063 Volkswagen Caddy tests, 4.5% of the model's MOT record.
  • "Joints constant velocity boot severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 13,595 Volkswagen Caddy tests, 2.5% of the model's MOT record.
  • "Coil spring fractured or broken" (Major) — noted on about 9,289 Volkswagen Caddy tests, 1.7% of the model's MOT record.
  • "Mirrors slightly damaged" (Minor) — noted on about 7,043 Volkswagen Caddy tests, 1.3% of the model's MOT record.

What Caddy fails on more than most

4 failure items are recorded at least 1.5 times the UK rate on this model.

Share of this model's own MOT tests that record each item, against the UK rate for the same item
Failure item This model UK × UK Typical fix
Shock absorbers damaged to the extent that it does not function Suspension · year by year → 1.8% 0.4% 4.5× £30–£75
Mirrors slightly damaged Visibility · year by year → 1.6% 0.4% 4.0× £3–£15
Shock absorber has no damping Suspension · year by year → 1.4% 0.4% 3.5× £30–£75
Windscreen damaged Visibility · year by year → 6.5% 2.7% 2.4× £80–£200

Rates are a share of this model's own tests (535,307 for the top row), so a big seller cannot outrank a rare one. The UK figure is the same item's share of every test in our data. Items Caddy records at or below the UK rate are not listed — this is where it is unusual, not a full inventory. All failure items · parts and costs

Best and Worst Volkswagen Caddy Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Volkswagen Caddy model year on record is 2023 (91.8% across 97 tests), and the weakest is 2001 (67.2%). The gap between them is 24.6 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Volkswagen Caddy reliability is improving in the DVSA data — the pass rate moves about 1.1 points a year across the most recent model years shown above.

Year Tests Pass rate First attempt Avg mileage Most common failure
2023 Caddy 97 91.8% 91.0% 37,422 mi Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick
2022 Caddy 2,528 89.1% 87.9% 48,439 mi Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting drive
2021 Caddy 8,364 88.7% 87.4% 48,020 mi Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting drive
2020 Caddy 21,896 87.8% 86.3% 52,918 mi Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting drive
2019 Caddy 35,865 86.2% 84.2% 62,943 mi Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting drive
2018 Caddy 36,642 86.1% 84.1% 75,169 mi Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting drive
2017 Caddy 41,393 82.5% 79.1% 81,653 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2016 Caddy 46,997 81.1% 77.1% 92,135 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2015 Caddy 43,980 79.6% 74.7% 99,086 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2014 Caddy 44,033 78.5% 73.0% 113,673 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2013 Caddy 46,534 77.3% 71.2% 121,529 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2012 Caddy 36,871 76.8% 70.5% 134,148 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2011 Caddy 45,772 75.8% 68.9% 134,143 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2010 Caddy 34,993 73.9% 65.9% 145,802 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2009 Caddy 25,658 74.2% 66.4% 148,537 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2008 Caddy 20,344 74.6% 67.2% 158,220 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2007 Caddy 16,971 73.5% 65.6% 155,715 mi Joints constant velocity boot severely deteriorated
2006 Caddy 11,086 72.9% 65.0% 161,526 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2005 Caddy 7,455 72.2% 64.3% 167,397 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2004 Caddy 4,528 71.9% 63.7% 169,436 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2003 Caddy 1,081 69.1% 60.2% 133,534 mi Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case o
2002 Caddy 966 70.8% 62.8% 145,004 mi Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting drive
2001 Caddy 551 67.2% 58.1% 132,663 mi Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area
2000 Caddy 702 73.5% 67.2% 121,569 mi Joints constant velocity boot severely deteriorated

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Volkswagen Caddy Owners

These checks follow this Volkswagen Caddy's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Volkswagen Caddy.

  • the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”

    Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

  • the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

    Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

  • the suspension joints — “pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn”

    With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Volkswagen Caddy. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Volkswagen Caddy MOT & Reliability

What is the Volkswagen Caddy MOT pass rate?

79.2% of the 535,307 recorded Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests ended in a pass, −1.8 percentage points below the national average. 74.3% of those passed on the first attempt.

Which Volkswagen Caddy model years pass the MOT most often?

2023 is the strongest Volkswagen Caddy year on record at 91.8%, while 2001 is the weakest at 67.2%. The year-by-year table below lists every model year with at least 50 recorded tests.

What are the most common Volkswagen Caddy MOT failures?

The most recorded Volkswagen Caddy failures are "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" and "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" — together around 13% of tests, mostly in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section.