2013 Subaru Xv — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Subaru Xv passed 81.5% of its 3,476 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.1 percentage points better than small SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.1%) and suspension (10.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, stop lamp and position lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 221 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.4% versus 10.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.5% fail against 21.1% for diesel, a 5.6-point gap across 3,473 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 385 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.0% | 348 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.8% | 167 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.6% | 91 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 91 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 42 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 221 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 158 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 141 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 113 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 98 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 77 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 28.7% | 998 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.1% | 769 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.8% | 687 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.6% | 266 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 157 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 131 |
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 | 137 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 886 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,282 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 854 | 23.3% |
| 120-150k | 267 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 49 | 22.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,845 | 21.1% |
| Petrol | 1,628 | 15.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 690 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 707 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 691 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 707 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 681 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Xv
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.0% 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.
- Brakes (4.8% 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 Subaru Xvs pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 3,476 2013 Subaru Xv MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Subaru Xv?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by suspension (10.0%).
Does the 2013 Xv get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,476 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.