Caterham 7
From 399 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, a direction indicator lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, caused 15 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 15 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 9 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 7 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 5 |
| brake pipe likely to become detached or damaged | 3 |
| a suspension component insecurely attached to chassis or axle | 3 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 3 |
| obligatory mirror or device slightly damaged or loose | 3 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 3 |
| indicator or hazard warning switch inoperative | 3 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 22.2% of 7 failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £65.
Typical mileage
Half of all 7s tested had between 11,345 and 33,119 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 20,635 median miles, the 7 has 0.053 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Caterham models
| Caterham Unclassified | 87.9% |
| Caterham Seven (S3) | 89.5% |
Common questions
What is the Caterham 7 MOT pass rate?
The Caterham 7 has a 89% MOT pass rate based on 399 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Caterham 7?
The most common MOT failure on the Caterham 7 is steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, which caused 15 failures. Other common issues include significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake.
What is the typical mileage of a Caterham 7 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Caterham 7 is 20,635 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 11,345 and 33,119 miles.
Buying a used 7?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.