Caterham Seven (S3)
From 1,974 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, emissions levels exceed default limits and significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake. The top issue, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 19 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 19 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 18 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 17 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 17 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 15 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 12 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 12 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 12 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 11 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 11 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 27.8% of Seven (S3) 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 £86.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 90.1% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2002 | 94.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, lamp not securely attached |
| 2000 | 88.7% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 1999 | 90.8% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
4 earlier years
| 1998 | 95.4% | a seat belt anchorage likely to become detached in the event of a collision, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1997 | 87.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1996 | 93.3% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1994 | 93.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Seven (S3)s tested had between 18,810 and 37,346 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 26,576 median miles, the Seven (S3) has 0.04 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Caterham models
Common questions
What is the Caterham Seven (S3) MOT pass rate?
The Caterham Seven (S3) has a 89.5% MOT pass rate based on 1,974 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Caterham Seven (S3)?
The most common MOT failure on the Caterham Seven (S3) is steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 19 failures. Other common issues include emissions levels exceed default limits.
What is the typical mileage of a Caterham Seven (S3) at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Caterham Seven (S3) is 26,576 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 18,810 and 37,346 miles.
Buying a used Seven (S3)?
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.