2013 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 19,966 MOT tests, the 2013 Toyota Avensis recorded an 82.9% pass rate. That is 3.1 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.6% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 721 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.0% versus 6.0%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (17.6% vs 14.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 2,111 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.8% | 1,148 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.9% | 968 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 941 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 722 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 266 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 721 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 659 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 621 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 618 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 460 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 418 |
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 | 26.1% | 5,218 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.2% | 4,636 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.1% | 4,206 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 2,406 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.7% | 2,135 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 1,077 |
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 | 347 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,456 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 4,577 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,199 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,896 | 18.9% |
| 150k+ | 5,490 | 22.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,410 | 17.6% |
| Petrol | 3,556 | 14.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,278 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 4,190 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 4,011 | 17.6% |
| 2024 | 3,871 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 3,616 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Avensis
On a 2013 Avensis, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.8% 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.
- Suspension (4.9% 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 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 19,966 2013 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by brakes (5.8%).
Does the 2013 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 22.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,966 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.