2013 Dacia Sandero — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 47,191 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Dacia Sandero, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 76.4% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (78.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 29.8% in the 150k+ group versus 13.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 5,925 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.6% | 4,529 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 3,305 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.6% | 2,657 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 2,628 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.5% | 2,134 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 2,813 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,469 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,796 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,702 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 1,658 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,639 |
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 | 28.3% | 13,373 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.3% | 9,594 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.3% | 6,756 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.3% | 3,918 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 1,728 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,659 |
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 | 3,280 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 16,027 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 17,574 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 7,667 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,038 | 29.9% |
| 150k+ | 591 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 33,597 | 22.5% |
| Diesel | 13,594 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,583 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 9,607 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 9,504 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 9,446 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 9,051 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Sandero
Before buying a 2013 Dacia Sandero, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 12.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.6% 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 (7.0% 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 Dacia Sanderos pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 47,191 2013 Dacia Sandero MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Dacia Sandero?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by suspension (9.6%).
Does the 2013 Sandero get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 47,191 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.