2013 Chevrolet Volt — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Chevrolet Volt passed 80.7% of its 332 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 20.0%, so the 2013 Volt sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.4%) and tyres (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, side repeaters and service brake performance — joints alone was recorded 17 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 19.2% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 18 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.1% | 17 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 15 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.5% | 15 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.2% | 14 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 17 |
| 2 | Side repeaters | 13 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 12 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 9 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 8 |
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 | 36.4% | 121 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.4% | 101 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.6% | 45 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.7% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 20 |
| 6 | Suspension | 6.0% | 20 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 46 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 110 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 95 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 52 | 19.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 234 | 18.8% |
| Electric | 98 | 20.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 14.5% |
| 2022 | 66 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 71 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 60 | 13.3% |
| 2025 | 66 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Volt
On a 2013 Volt, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Body, structure & corrosion (4.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Volts pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 332 2013 Chevrolet Volt MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Chevrolet Volt?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.1%).
Does the 2013 Volt get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 30-60k band to 19.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 332 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.