Skip to main content
Pass Your MOT

2005 Caterham 7 MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for 7 models manufactured in 2005, based on 265 real MOT test results.

90.2%
Pass Rate
9.8%
Fail Rate
265
Total Tests
17,292
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

2005 Caterham 7 MOT Analysis

The 2005 Caterham 7 has an MOT pass rate of 90.2% based on 265 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 17,292 miles on the odometer. With a 9.8% failure rate, the 2005 7 is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 2005 Caterham 7 is Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, responsible for 0.8% of failures. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs range from £5–50. Noise, emissions and leaks is the second most common issue at 0.8%. Identification of the vehicle follows at 0.4%.

Top failures specific to 2005 models only. The overall 7 page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

Identification of the vehicle 0.4%

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment0.8%2
2Noise, Emissions And Leaks0.8%2
3Identification Of The Vehicle0.4%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 17,292 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Lamps & Electrical0.44% per 10K miNoise, emissions and leaks0.44% per 10K miIdentification of the vehicle0.22% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Lamps & Electrical0.440.8%2
Noise, emissions and leaks0.440.8%2
Identification of the vehicle0.220.4%1

Mileage Statistics

17,292
Mean
10,062
Median
6,287
25th Percentile
22,886
75th Percentile
5.67% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 2005 Caterham 7 has an MOT pass rate of 90.2% based on 265 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 17,292 miles on the odometer. With a 9.8% failure rate, the 2005 7 is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 2005 Caterham 7, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test. With relatively low average mileage of 17,292 miles, many of these vehicles are still in good mechanical condition.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 0.8% of failures

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 0.8% of MOT failures on 2005 Caterham 7 models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.

Noise, emissions and leaks — 0.8% of failures

Noise, emissions and leaks issues account for 0.8% of MOT failures on 2005 Caterham 7 models. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.

Identification of the vehicle — 0.4% of failures

Identification of the vehicle issues account for 0.4% of MOT failures on 2005 Caterham 7 models. Identification failures relate to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration plate. The VIN must be permanently displayed and legible, and the registration plate must meet British Standard formatting. Typical repair costs: £10–50. Pre-MOT check: Ensure the VIN plate is visible and legible (usually in the windscreen or under the bonnet). Check that number plates are clean, undamaged, and use the correct font and spacing.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Share via WhatsApp Share on Facebook Report Issue