2013 Mercedes-Benz B-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz B-Class passed 82.4% of its 43,034 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 20.9% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.3%) and suspension (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, registration plate lamp(s) and linkage ball joint dust cover — coil spring alone was recorded 1,519 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.5% versus 8.5%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.7pp more often than petrol ones (18.3% vs 14.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 3,141 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.9% | 2,955 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.0% | 2,587 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 1,126 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 867 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 790 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,519 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,367 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,263 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,079 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 841 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 776 |
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 | 25.4% | 10,953 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 7,910 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 4,427 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 3,388 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,514 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 941 |
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 | 2,241 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 13,799 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 15,985 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 7,917 | 22.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,317 | 22.2% |
| 150k+ | 766 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 35,164 | 18.3% |
| Petrol | 7,870 | 14.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,481 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 8,567 | 15.9% |
| 2023 | 8,640 | 17.6% |
| 2024 | 8,769 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 8,577 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 B-Class
On a 2013 B-Class, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.9% 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.
- Tyres (6.0% 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.
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 Mercedes-Benz B-Classs pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 43,034 2013 Mercedes-Benz B-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz B-Class?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by suspension (6.9%).
Does the 2013 B-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 23.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,034 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.