Caterham Seven, Buying guide, MOT record and recalls
In 2025, the Caterham Seven passed 88.2% of 1,991 initial MOT tests, 15.9 points above the 72.3% UK average.
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Caterham Seven at the MOT
88.2% of 1,991 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the Seven 65th of 575 models.
First-time pass rate, 2025
Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.
Where Sevens fail
Share of all failure items recorded on Caterham Seven tests in 2025.
The items testers recorded most often were catalyst emissions lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (5.3%), stop lamp all not working (4.7%) and rear fog lamp not working (4.6%).
The MOT page lists every common Seven MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.
What to look at on a viewing
The Seven's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.
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Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Walk round with every light on: headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp. Check no warning lights stay on after starting.37.5% of Seven failure items
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Noise, emissions and leaks
Listen for a blowing exhaust, watch for smoke on start-up and look under the car for oil or fluid leaks.21.9% of Seven failure items
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Brakes
Make sure the pedal feels firm, the car stops in a straight line, the handbrake holds on a slope and no brake warning light is showing.12.9% of Seven failure items
Seven engine sizes
1.6 litre engines made up 44% of Caterham Seven MOT tests in 2025, followed by 1.8 litre at 25%.
Engine size at MOT, 2025
Share of 1,988 initial MOT tests in 2025.
Caterham Seven recalls
8 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Caterham Seven. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every Seven is affected.
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Jan 2016 R/2016/006
Throttle may stick when engine is hot
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Due to an overlap in manufacturing tolerance the throttle body butterfly may not return when the throttle pedal is released. As a result engine speed may not fall as expected.
- Remedy
- Replace throttle body on affected vehicles.
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Jun 2014 R/2014/062
Throttle pedal may detach
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- There is a small possibility that the throttle pedal securing bolt may work loose. This can only occur if as a minimum the securing bolt is not tightened sufficiently to completely flatten the spring washer. The bolt may work free during pedal operation. This will result in the throttle pedal coming free from its chassis anchor point causing an inability to operate the throttle pedal and an immediate reduction in engine speed.
- Remedy
- Recall the affected vehicles and check that the throttle pedal Cable Post is not in contact with the head of the throttle pedal securing bolt ensure that the bolt is tightened to 25Nm and that the throttle pedal is free to operate to the full extent of its travel in both directions.
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Dec 2013 R/2013/154
Possibility of loss of steering
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Incorrect steering rack mounting bolts may have been fitted. As a result one or more of the heads on the 4 steering rack securing bolts may fracture due to embrittlement. This may present itself to the owner visually by missing bolt head/s and/or bolts from the steering rack securing brackets. This may lead to reduced steering control and ultimately loss of steering if all bolts were to fracture.
- Remedy
- Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to replacement all 4 steering rack securing bolts and associated Nyloc nuts and washers.
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Dec 2012 R/2012/136
Braking may be reduced
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- The rear brake line on top of the de Dion tube impacts on differential carrier securing bolts when suspension is at full travel. The concern was initially identified when investigating feedback from race car drivers on the de Dion tube hitting the differential carrier bolts. There have been no reported brake line failures to date from the field or during internal testing. Rear brake line may become crushed and eventually fail thus affecting rear brake operation.
- Remedy
- Fit differently routed brake line.
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Dec 2011 R/2011/164
Rear brake may not perform correctly
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- It has been identified that the pistons in the rear brake calliper may become sticky in operation after application of the footbrake or parking brake. This in extreme conditions could have an affect on the vehicles braking or handling performance.
- Remedy
- Recall all affected vehicles for the fitment of an alternative brake calliper.
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Mar 2010 R/2010/011
Possible rear hub and brake caliper detachment
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- It has been identified that a due to the failure of a mounting bolt/s a rear hub and brake caliper could detach.
- Remedy
- Recalled vehicles will have the subject bolts replaced with ones which have been quality assured.
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Jul 2007 R/2007/115
Steering may fail
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- The steering column universal joint may fail which will lead to the loss of directional control.
- Remedy
- Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to fit quality assured components.
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Oct 2006 R/2006/191
Suspension may collapse
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- There have been a few incidents of welds failing on the rear suspension during race application only that in the worst case will lead to the suspension collapsing.
- Remedy
- Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to either replace the affected part or reinforce it with a bracket.
Caterham Seven FAQs
Is the Caterham Seven reliable?
MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is an 88.2% first-time pass rate for the Caterham Seven across 1,991 tests in 2025, above the 72.3% average for all cars.
Has the Caterham Seven had any recalls?
8 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Caterham Seven. The most recent was published in January 2016. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.
What should I check before buying a used Caterham Seven?
On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, noise, emissions and leaks and brakes. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.
How do I check a Caterham Seven's history?
Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.
Already found a Seven?
Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.
Across the 1,548 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the car history check.
- Outstanding finance
- Write-off records
- Stolen markers
- Mileage history
- Previous keepers
MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to October 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.