2013 Chevrolet Trax — MOT failures & pass rate
6,342 MOT tests on the 2013 Chevrolet Trax are in this dataset, and 77.4% of them passed. That is 2.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.1% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, coil spring and headlamp aim — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 500 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.5% in the 0-30k band and 34.3% in the 150k+ band, a 24.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (24.0% vs 21.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.1% | 829 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 499 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 331 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.2% | 328 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 261 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.9% | 248 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 500 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 335 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 314 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 290 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 204 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 177 |
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 | 26.5% | 1,678 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.8% | 1,448 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.8% | 1,257 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 873 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.1% | 643 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 324 |
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 | 211 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,593 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,609 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,465 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 357 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 102 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,309 | 24.0% |
| Petrol | 3,033 | 21.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,254 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 1,287 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 1,277 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 1,295 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 1,229 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Trax
On a 2013 Trax, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.2% 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 Traxs pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 6,342 2013 Chevrolet Trax MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Chevrolet Trax?
Suspension, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.9%).
Does the 2013 Trax get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 34.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,342 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.