2013 Mazda Bongo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Mazda Bongo passed 70.1% of its 2,245 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.5 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests against 13.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and rear fog lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 260 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.9% once past 150k — 3.5× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 29.5% of the time against 30.0% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 414 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.4% | 300 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 182 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 180 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.7% | 172 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 141 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 260 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 168 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 158 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 139 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 139 |
| 6 | Wipers | 126 |
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 | 29.4% | 661 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.2% | 589 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.2% | 409 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 399 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 370 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 301 |
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 | 31 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 269 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 577 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 508 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 856 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,557 | 30.0% |
| Diesel | 682 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 541 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 542 | 31.4% |
| 2023 | 504 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 352 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 306 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Bongo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Mazda Bongos pass their MOT?
70.1% of the 2,245 2013 Mazda Bongo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mazda Bongo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by suspension (13.4%).
Does the 2013 Bongo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 30-60k band to 33.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,245 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.