2013 Renault Kangoo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,833 MOT tests, the 2013 Renault Kangoo recorded a 69.8% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2013 Kangoo comes out 5.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.5%) and suspension (14.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, coil spring and track rod end — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 1,724 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.7% versus 20.3%.
The electric cars hold up better: 22.5% fail against 30.6% for diesel, a 8.1-point gap across 16,803 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 44.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.3% 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% | 2,778 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.1% | 2,375 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 1,901 |
| 4 | Steering | 8.7% | 1,471 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 1,264 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 1,215 |
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 | 1,724 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,695 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 1,632 |
| 4 | Joints | 1,176 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 908 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 878 |
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 | 44.3% | 7,453 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.8% | 5,009 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 2,928 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.2% | 2,213 |
| 5 | Visibility | 11.3% | 1,898 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.8% | 1,642 |
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 | 479 | 20.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,587 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,779 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,285 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 3,421 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 3,272 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,095 | 30.6% |
| Electric | 708 | 22.5% |
| Petrol | 30 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,489 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 3,498 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 3,509 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 3,271 | 31.2% |
| 2025 | 3,066 | 31.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Kangoo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.5% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Suspension (14.1% 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.
- Brakes (11.3% 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.
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 Renault Kangoos pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 16,833 2013 Renault Kangoo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Renault Kangoo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by suspension (14.1%).
Does the 2013 Kangoo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,833 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.