2013 Chevrolet Cruze — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Chevrolet Cruze passed 76.7% of its 8,388 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (19.3% fail rate), the 2013 Cruze comes out 4.1pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.7% of all tests — 3.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 808 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.2% in the 0-30k band and 29.3% in the 150k+ band, a 12.2-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (24.5% vs 22.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 1,152 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.2% | 853 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 504 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 480 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 456 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 431 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 808 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 587 |
| 3 | Wipers | 319 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 306 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 294 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 264 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.2% | 2,363 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.8% | 1,826 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 1,279 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.9% | 1,081 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 914 |
| 6 | Suspension | 8.7% | 726 |
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 | 274 | 17.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,336 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,426 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,569 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 534 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 249 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,088 | 22.9% |
| Diesel | 2,300 | 24.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,802 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 1,802 | 23.3% |
| 2023 | 1,726 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 1,591 | 23.8% |
| 2025 | 1,467 | 25.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Cruze
On a 2013 Cruze, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.2% 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 (6.0% 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 Cruzes pass their MOT?
76.7% of the 8,388 2013 Chevrolet Cruze MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by suspension (10.2%).
Does the 2013 Cruze get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,388 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.