2013 Skoda Superb — MOT failures & pass rate
23,298 MOT tests on the 2013 Skoda Superb are in this dataset, and 80.5% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 20.2%, so the 2013 Superb sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (9.0%) and lighting & signalling (7.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 885 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.9% in the 0-30k band and 22.1% in the 150k+ band, a 12.2-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.9pp more often than petrol ones (19.8% vs 15.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.0% | 2,091 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 1,850 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.2% | 1,671 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 935 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 448 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 334 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 885 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 811 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 748 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 533 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 395 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 389 |
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 | 24.4% | 5,680 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.0% | 4,883 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.6% | 4,099 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 1,840 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 1,747 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 1,145 |
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 | 303 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,539 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,739 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 5,489 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 3,670 | 22.9% |
| 150k+ | 5,529 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,714 | 19.8% |
| Petrol | 1,579 | 15.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,739 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 4,844 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 4,767 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 4,552 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 4,396 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Superb
On a 2013 Superb, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 Superbs pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 23,298 2013 Skoda Superb MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Skoda Superb?
Suspension, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.9%).
Does the 2013 Superb get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,298 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.