2021 Volkswagen Caddy C20 Commerce — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,805 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Volkswagen Caddy C20 Commerce, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 88.7% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.4% in the 120-150k group versus 9.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 203 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 150 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 114 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 99 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 67 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 36 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 149 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 128 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 91 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 66 |
| 5 | Wipers | 66 |
| 6 | Washers | 58 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.4% | 892 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 500 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.7% | 256 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 194 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 119 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 36 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 657 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,832 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 995 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 245 | 12.7% |
| 120-150k | 55 | 16.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,566 | 11.3% |
| Petrol | 238 | 11.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,966 | 12.0% |
| 2025 | 1,823 | 10.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Caddy C20 Commerce
Before buying a 2021 Volkswagen Caddy C20 Commerce, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Volkswagen Caddy C20 Commerces pass their MOT?
88.7% of the 3,805 2021 Volkswagen Caddy C20 Commerce MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Volkswagen Caddy C20 Commerce?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Does the 2021 Caddy C20 Commerce get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 16.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,805 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.