Caterham Unclassified
From 2,035 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 emissions levels exceed default limits, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits and lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer. The top issue, emissions levels exceed default limits, caused 65 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.
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 65 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 41 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 30 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 27 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 16 |
| a reversing lamp inoperative | 14 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 12 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 11 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 10 |
| number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 9 |
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 84.1% | emissions levels exceed default limits, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2020 | 88.1% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 86% | emissions levels exceed default limits, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2018 | 90.5% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, emissions levels exceed default limits |
3 earlier years
| 2017 | 89% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2016 | 87.4% | emissions levels exceed default limits, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2013 | 89.4% | a reversing lamp inoperative, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
Typical mileage
Half of all Unclassifieds tested had between 4,222 and 11,027 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 7,785 median miles, the Unclassified has 0.155 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Caterham models
| Caterham Seven (S3) | 89.5% |
Common questions
What is the Caterham Unclassified MOT pass rate?
The Caterham Unclassified has a 87.9% MOT pass rate based on 2,035 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Caterham Unclassified?
The most common MOT failure on the Caterham Unclassified is emissions levels exceed default limits, which caused 65 failures. Other common issues include emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits.
What is the typical mileage of a Caterham Unclassified at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Caterham Unclassified is 7,785 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 4,222 and 11,027 miles.
Buying a used Unclassified?
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.