Caterham Unknown (2017)
2017 Caterham Unknown
CarHunch analysed 222 real MOT records for the 2017 Caterham Unknown. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 2017 Caterham Unknown falls slightly below the UK average with a 77.7% first-time pass rate against the national 80%, suggesting a marginally higher likelihood of minor faults at MOT. The dangerous defect rate of 6.3% is well below concerning levels, so structural or safety issues are not a widespread problem for this cohort.
At just over 5,100 miles median, these cars are genuinely low-mileage examples—typical for specialist sports cars kept as weekend toys rather than daily transport. With an average of 0.46 failures and 0.9 advisories per vehicle, most will sail through MOT once any initial issues are resolved, so check the service history carefully and budget for pre-purchase inspection of brakes and suspension on older examples.
What to check before buying a 2017 Caterham Unknown
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Caterham Unknown
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Mileage Distribution
Most 2017 Caterham Unknown vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2017 Caterham Unknown vehicles fall between 2,656 and 7,670 miles.
2017 Caterham Unknown — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 139 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 93% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2017 Caterham Unknown
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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14.6%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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13.4%
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits
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12.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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11.6%
COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION
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10%
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits
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9.4%
Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play
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9.4%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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9.1%
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Caterham Unknown?
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