Caterham Super7 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 232 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 19.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Caterham Super7 MOT Reliability Overview
The Caterham Super7 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 232 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.6% and a failure rate of 19.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Caterham Super7 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Caterham Super7 presents for MOT with approximately 20,935 miles on the clock. The 2002 manufacture year performs best with a 70.0% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Caterham Super7 is Suspension, affecting 10.3% of all tests. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. The second most common issue is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment at 6.5%. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions rounds out the top three at 6.5%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 12.5% | 29 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.8% | 25 |
| 3 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 7.8% | 18 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.5% | 15 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.6% | 13 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.6% | 13 |
| 7 | Driver's View Of The Road | 2.2% | 5 |
| 8 | Visibility | 1.3% | 3 |
| 9 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 1.3% | 3 |
| 10 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.9% | 2 |
| 11 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.4% | 1 |
| 12 | Body, Structure And General Items | 0.4% | 1 |
| 13 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.4% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 20,935 miFor 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.
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| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 5.97 | 12.5% | 29 |
| Suspension | 5.15 | 10.8% | 25 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 3.71 | 7.8% | 18 |
| Steering | 3.09 | 6.5% | 15 |
| Tyres | 2.68 | 5.6% | 13 |
| Brakes | 2.68 | 5.6% | 13 |
| Visibility | 1.65 | 3.5% | 8 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.62 | 1.3% | 3 |
| Body & Structure | 0.42 | 0.8% | 2 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.41 | 0.9% | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 0.21 | 0.4% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Caterham Super7 has 20,935 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Caterham Super7 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 9.27% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Caterham Super7 MOT Data
The Caterham Super7 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 232 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.6% and a failure rate of 19.4%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Caterham Super7 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Super7 is likely to perform.
Suspension — 10.3% of failures
Suspension issues account for 10.3% of MOT failures on the Caterham Super7. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 6.5% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 6.5% of MOT failures on the Caterham Super7. 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.
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 6.5% of failures
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions issues account for 6.5% of MOT failures on the Caterham Super7. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Caterham Super7?
Based on 232 MOT tests in our database, the Caterham Super7 has an overall pass rate of 80.6% (19.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Caterham Super7?
The top 3 reasons a Caterham Super7 fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (10.3%), 2. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (6.5%), 3. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (6.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Caterham Super7 reliable?
With a 19.4% MOT failure rate, the Super7 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Caterham Super7?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (10.3%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (6.5%); Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (6.5%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.