2020 Volkswagen Caddy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,765 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volkswagen Caddy, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 87.9% was above the average for vans of a similar age (85.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 19.3% in the 150k+ group versus 8.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 1,348 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 1,222 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 787 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 718 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 414 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 297 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 590 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 563 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 539 |
| 4 | Washers | 492 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 388 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 375 |
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 | 23.0% | 5,244 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.2% | 3,457 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.4% | 1,236 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.0% | 1,132 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.3% | 974 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 901 |
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 | 6,733 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 8,470 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,451 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,920 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 734 | 15.4% |
| 150k+ | 457 | 19.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,970 | 12.2% |
| Petrol | 795 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 131 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 364 | 9.6% |
| 2023 | 7,430 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 7,463 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 7,377 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Caddy
Before buying a 2020 Volkswagen Caddy, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.5% 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 2020 Volkswagen Caddys pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 22,765 2020 Volkswagen Caddy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Caddy?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.4%).
Does the 2020 Caddy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,765 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.