2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan passed 72.7% of its 10,251 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2013 Citan comes out 3.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.5% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, track rod end and joints — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 978 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 Citan fails 24.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 4.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 1,692 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 1,151 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 989 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.0% | 824 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 810 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.5% | 661 |
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 | 978 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 912 |
| 3 | Joints | 804 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 666 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 547 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 531 |
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 | 42.9% | 4,395 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.6% | 2,935 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 1,702 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.2% | 1,252 |
| 5 | Visibility | 10.3% | 1,051 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.4% | 963 |
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 | 137 | 24.1% |
| 30-60k | 586 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,944 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,757 | 27.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,237 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,488 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,148 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 2,131 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 2,086 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 2,011 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 1,875 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Citan
On a 2013 Citan, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.2% 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 (9.7% 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 Mercedes-Benz Citans pass their MOT?
72.7% of the 10,251 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by brakes (11.2%).
Does the 2013 Citan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,251 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.