Caterham Super 7
From 704 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are emissions levels exceed default limits, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake and steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, emissions levels exceed default limits, caused 15 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 15 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 14 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 9 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 8 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 7 |
| emissions test unable to be completed | 7 |
| number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 6 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 6 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 6 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 6 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 23.8% of Super 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 £91.
Typical mileage
Half of all Super 7s tested had between 6,726 and 28,002 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 17,217 median miles, the Super 7 has 0.078 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Caterham models
| Caterham Unclassified | 87.9% |
| Caterham Seven (S3) | 89.5% |
Common questions
What is the Caterham Super 7 MOT pass rate?
The Caterham Super 7 has a 86.6% MOT pass rate based on 704 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Caterham Super 7?
The most common MOT failure on the Caterham Super 7 is emissions levels exceed default limits, 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 Super 7 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Caterham Super 7 is 17,217 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 6,726 and 28,002 miles.
Buying a used Super 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.