2013 Renault Master — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,994 MOT tests, the 2013 Renault Master recorded an 82.1% pass rate. That is 6.6 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 24.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.2%) and brakes (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 142 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.4% in the 0-30k band and 21.5% in the 150k+ band, a 14.1-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 449 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 341 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 167 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 155 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 155 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.9% | 115 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 142 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 139 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 137 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 130 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 102 |
| 6 | Joints | 96 |
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 | 24.2% | 968 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.8% | 591 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.5% | 500 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 435 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.6% | 304 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.5% | 220 |
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 | 364 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 879 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 803 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 581 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 447 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 907 | 21.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 743 | 15.5% |
| 2022 | 801 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 809 | 19.3% |
| 2024 | 834 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 807 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Master
On a 2013 Master, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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 (4.2% 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 Renault Masters pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 3,994 2013 Renault Master MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Renault Master?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by brakes (8.5%).
Does the 2013 Master get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,994 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.