Caterham
Seven (s3)
2,268 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Seven (s3)s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 10.9 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
88.4%
Pass-after-fix
3.1%
Fail
7.7%
Avg miles
27,143
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Seven (S3): a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,288 MOT tests, the Seven (S3) returns 86.0% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a torn steering gaiter. Windscreen damage and lambda coefficient outside the default limits round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 26,352, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 28–42
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
28–42
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated
42 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
35 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
- 03
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
20 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 04
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
18 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 05
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
16 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 06
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
14 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 07
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
13 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 08
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
13 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 09
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
12 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 10
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
11 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£240–£720
If every one of this Seven (s3)'s most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
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Buying or keeping a Seven (s3)?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Seven (s3) and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.