2013 Ford Grand C-Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Ford Grand C-Max passed 78.6% of its 28,763 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (20.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests against 8.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and stop lamp — tread depth alone was recorded 1,261 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.1% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.3% fail against 21.8% for diesel, a 2.5-point gap across 28,763 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 33.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 3,805 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.2% | 2,351 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 1,823 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.1% | 1,174 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,088 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 770 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 1,261 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,248 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,215 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,177 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 949 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 777 |
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 | 33.5% | 9,644 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.3% | 7,564 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.5% | 5,602 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.7% | 4,233 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 2,466 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 1,326 |
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 | 281 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 4,947 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 11,907 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 8,108 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,636 | 26.4% |
| 150k+ | 869 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,342 | 21.8% |
| Petrol | 4,421 | 19.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,797 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 5,855 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 5,841 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 5,771 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 5,499 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Grand C-Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.2% 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.
- Brakes (6.3% 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 Ford Grand C-Maxs pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 28,763 2013 Ford Grand C-Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Ford Grand C-Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by tyres (8.2%).
Does the 2013 Grand C-Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,763 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.