2013 Honda Stepwagon — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Honda Stepwagon passed 88.4% of its 855 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 22.0% of the time, so this is 10.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.6% of tests against 3.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and brake pads — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 31 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.8% versus 10.8%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 13.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.0% in 2021 to 12.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 65 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.7% | 32 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.8% | 24 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.6% | 22 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 31 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 21 |
| 4 | Wipers | 20 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 18 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.9% | 119 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.1% | 112 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 82 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.3% | 54 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 43 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.9% | 42 |
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 | 203 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 466 | 8.6% |
| 90-120k | 92 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 57 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 31 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 37 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 109 | 8.3% |
| 2024 | 251 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 418 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Stepwagon
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Brakes (2.8% 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 Honda Stepwagons pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 855 2013 Honda Stepwagon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Honda Stepwagon?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by suspension (3.7%).
Does the 2013 Stepwagon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 30-60k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 855 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.