2013 Honda CR-V — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 80,924 MOT tests, the 2013 Honda CR-V recorded an 87.6% pass rate. That is 7.9 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.5%) and tyres (4.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 2,321 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.2% versus 7.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.4% fail against 13.0% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 80,924 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 3,654 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 3,416 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.7% | 3,017 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 2,500 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 2,113 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 550 |
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 | 2,321 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,596 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,353 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,310 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,048 |
| 6 | Washers | 878 |
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 | 22.6% | 18,290 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 12,627 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.1% | 9,826 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 7,055 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.1% | 6,531 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 3,377 |
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 | 1,992 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 17,943 | 9.5% |
| 60-90k | 31,001 | 11.7% |
| 90-120k | 19,578 | 13.8% |
| 120-150k | 7,515 | 16.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,765 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 47,257 | 13.0% |
| Petrol | 33,667 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,157 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 16,181 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 16,233 | 12.4% |
| 2024 | 16,294 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 16,059 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 CR-V
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.2% 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.
- Suspension (3.7% 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 Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT?
87.6% of the 80,924 2013 Honda CR-V MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Honda CR-V?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by tyres (4.2%).
Does the 2013 CR-V get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 80,924 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.