2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class passed 89.0% of its 645 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (16.4% fail rate), the 2013 G-Class comes out 5.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.0%) and brakes (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are individual direction indicators, malfunction indicator lamp and headlamp aim — individual direction indicators alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 G-Class fails 7.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.9% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 14.0% 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 | 5.0% | 32 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 19 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 17 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 16 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.5% | 16 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.0% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Individual direction indicators | 16 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 14 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 12 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 12 |
| 6 | Wipers | 12 |
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 | 14.0% | 90 |
| 2 | Tyres | 12.7% | 82 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 60 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.4% | 54 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.6% | 36 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 26 |
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 | 86 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 214 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 229 | 10.9% |
| 90-120k | 91 | 9.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 333 | 8.4% |
| Diesel | 312 | 13.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 122 | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 141 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 125 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 129 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 128 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 G-Class
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.9% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 G-Classs pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 645 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by brakes (2.9%).
Does the 2013 G-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 9.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 645 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.