2013 Chevrolet Captiva — MOT failures & pass rate
6,638 MOT tests on the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva are in this dataset, and 74.9% of them passed. That is 5.2 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.5% of tests against 8.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, pins and bushes and tread depth — headlamp alone was recorded 485 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.9% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 1,027 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.5% | 565 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 565 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.6% | 435 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 298 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 261 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 485 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 378 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 294 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 254 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 250 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 215 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.4% | 1,950 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.2% | 1,936 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.8% | 1,715 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.1% | 1,603 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 1,080 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.0% | 798 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 36 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,086 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,988 | 24.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,943 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 491 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 34.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,449 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 1,450 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 1,358 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 1,270 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 1,111 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Captiva
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (8.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2013 Chevrolet Captivas pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 6,638 2013 Chevrolet Captiva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by suspension (8.5%).
Does the 2013 Captiva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 34.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,638 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.