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Caterham 21 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Caterham 21. Check any 21 by registration number below.

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96.9%

Avg Pass Rate

+6.6%

vs Caterham Avg

2

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

Caterham 21 — MOT Reliability Overview

The Caterham 21 has an average MOT pass rate of 96.9%, which is 6.6 percentage points above the Caterham brand average of 90.3%. This is a strong result, indicating that the 21 is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

Before buying a used Caterham 21, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Caterham 21 performs at MOT across different model years.

1997

Based on 34 vehicles

97.1%Excellent
Caterham average: 90.3%
Dangerous Defects

3.8%

0

Based on 31 vehicles

96.8%Excellent
Caterham average: 90.3%
Mileage at 5yr

27k mi

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Offside

2.9%

Nearside

2.9%

Other Caterham Models

Compare MOT reliability across Caterham models.

Caterham Super 7

92.0% pass rate

Caterham 7

89.7% pass rate

Caterham R500

85.7% pass rate

Caterham Seven (s3)

91.8% pass rate

Caterham Seven

94.7% pass rate

Caterham Unclassified

90.3% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Caterham 21

Caterham 21 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Caterham 21 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Caterham 21?
The average MOT pass rate for the Caterham 21 is 96.9% compared to the Caterham average of 90.3%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Caterham 21?
Check the detailed breakdown on this page for specific failure data by year range.
Is the Caterham 21 reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 96.9%, the Caterham 21 is rated as "Excellent" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.
How do I check the MOT history of a Caterham 21?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Caterham 21?
Typical mileage for the Caterham 21: 27,417 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 21 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Caterham 21's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

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