2013 Mercedes-Benz R-Class — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz R-Class passed 83.3% of its 909 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.9%) and brakes (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, position lamp and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 46 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 R-Class fails 16.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 18.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.9% in 2021 to 12.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 49 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 47 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.5% | 32 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.6% | 24 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 46 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 31 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 18 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 17 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 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 | Tyres | 21.2% | 193 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.3% | 185 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 13.3% | 121 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 111 |
| 5 | Suspension | 10.7% | 97 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.9% | 54 |
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 | 131 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 245 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 287 | 19.2% |
| 120-150k | 143 | 16.1% |
| 150k+ | 86 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 184 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 183 | 16.9% |
| 2023 | 192 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 185 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 165 | 12.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 R-Class
On a 2013 R-Class, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.2% 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 Mercedes-Benz R-Classs pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 909 2013 Mercedes-Benz R-Class MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz R-Class?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.4%).
Does the 2013 R-Class get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 30-60k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 909 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.