2013 Skoda Citigo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 40,233 MOT tests, the 2013 Skoda Citigo recorded an 86.3% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (19.2% fail rate), the 2013 Citigo comes out 5.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.9%) and brakes (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and wipers — service brake performance alone was recorded 1,415 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.4% versus 7.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 2,375 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 2,147 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,422 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.4% | 1,363 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.6% | 1,056 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 917 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 1,415 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,214 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,003 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 889 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 740 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 693 |
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 | 25.1% | 10,116 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.0% | 6,826 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 3,154 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.5% | 3,031 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 1,319 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 1,120 |
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 | 5,950 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 16,925 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 12,095 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 4,015 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 966 | 23.8% |
| 150k+ | 275 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,893 | 11.8% |
| 2022 | 8,008 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 8,052 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 8,156 | 15.1% |
| 2025 | 8,124 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Citigo
On a 2013 Citigo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.3% 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.
- Visibility (3.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Skoda Citigos pass their MOT?
86.3% of the 40,233 2013 Skoda Citigo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Skoda Citigo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.3%).
Does the 2013 Citigo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,233 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.