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P991 SJD

1997 Caterham Seven (S3)

Blue Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Jul 2026
Tests25 (18 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate72%

Mileage

30,963 mi
Last recorded30,963 miles
Recorded on17 Jul 2025
Typical for 1997 Caterham Seven (S3)20,400 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Caterham
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP991 SJD
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven (S3)
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

18 pass 7 fail
Pass 17 Jul 2025 30,963 miles
Pass 31 May 2024 29,532 miles
Fail 30 May 2024 29,531 miles

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Pass 6 Jun 2023 28,259 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2022 26,620 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2022 26,581 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2021 26,377 miles
Fail 15 Apr 2021 26,377 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 26 Oct 2017 25,295 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2016 21,241 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2015 18,179 miles

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

exhaust mounting rubbers splitting

rear brake discs starting to corrode

strong advisory that both rear upper suspension arms are corroded

Fail 26 May 2015 18,179 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Rear registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

exhaust mounting rubbers splitting

rear brake discs starting to corrode

strong advisory that both rear upper suspension arms are corroded

Pass 2 Jun 2014 17,977 miles

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

chassis rails corrodeing

Pass 28 May 2013 17,830 miles

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

offside front chassis corrodeing

rear chassis corrodeing

strong advisory that both rear upper suspension arms are corroded

Fail 20 May 2013 17,830 miles

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

brake discs corrodeing

offside front chassis corrodeing

rear chassis corrodeing

strong advisory that both rear upper suspension arms are corroded

Pass 21 Dec 2011 17,714 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Suspension joint offside upper dust cover split/missing

Pass 26 Nov 2010 17,522 miles
Fail 22 Nov 2010 17,522 miles

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

oil filter corroded

strong advisory that both front mud guards fittings are deteriorated

strong advisory that the heater hoses are perished

Pass 5 Oct 2009 17,290 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

front chassis tube sections corrodeing

nearside front mudguard slightly loose

rear suspension arms corrodeing

Pass 4 Sep 2008 16,862 miles
Fail 15 Aug 2008 16,861 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3) DANGEROUS

alt belt loose

nearside front mud guard loose

Pass 6 Jul 2007 16,576 miles

205/45/r16/83v

both rear tyres perishing on tread and side walls

steering rack boots perishing

Pass 6 Jun 2006 16,258 miles
Fail 1 Jun 2006 16,258 miles

Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

both rear tyres starting to perrish

Pass 31 May 2005 16,021 miles

How Reliable is the Caterham Seven (S3)?

Based on 32,485 MOT tests across 2,453 vehicles.

86.1%
Pass Rate
613
Miles/Year
55
Year Lifespan
2,453
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Stop lamp not working 476
Steering rack gaiter split 309
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 206
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 188
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 185
Full Caterham Seven (S3) reliability report

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P991 SJD is a 1997 Caterham Seven (S3) in Blue with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72%.

Across all 1997 Caterham Seven (S3) models, the average MOT pass rate is 86.2% with a typical mileage of 20,400 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Caterham Seven (S3) fails its MOT is stop lamp not working, accounting for 476 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P991 SJD, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Caterham Seven (S3) typically stays on UK roads for around 55 years. At 29 years old, this Caterham Seven (S3) is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P991 SJD?

You can check the full history of P991 SJD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P991 SJD registered?

P991 SJD is a 1997 Caterham Seven (S3), first registered on 17 February 1997.

Is P991 SJD safe to buy?

The MOT history for P991 SJD shows 25 tests with a 72% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P991 SJD have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on P991 SJD. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.