2013 Great Wall Steed S Td — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 836 MOT tests, the 2013 Great Wall Steed S Td recorded a 71.3% pass rate. That is 9.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.6% of tests against 18.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, headlamp aim and ball joint — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 113 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 Steed S Td fails 23.9% of the time in the 30-60k band and 26.8% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.6% in 2021 to 23.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 181 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 154 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 108 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 100 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.9% | 66 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 26 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 113 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 87 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 73 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 58 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 56 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 53 |
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 | 35.3% | 295 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.3% | 278 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.7% | 173 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 168 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.1% | 151 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 99 |
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 | 176 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 364 | 31.9% |
| 90-120k | 221 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 214 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 198 | 30.3% |
| 2023 | 175 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 141 | 29.8% |
| 2025 | 108 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Steed S Td
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (18.4% 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.
- Suspension (12.9% 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.
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 Great Wall Steed S Tds pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 836 2013 Great Wall Steed S Td MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Great Wall Steed S Td?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.6% of tests, followed by brakes (18.4%).
Does the 2013 Steed S Td get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.9% in the 30-60k band to 26.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 836 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.