2013 Toyota Vitz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Toyota Vitz passed 89.1% of its 1,025 recorded MOT tests. That is 11.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.0% of all tests — 4.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, linkage ball joint dust cover and tread depth — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 55 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 Vitz fails 11.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.3% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 92 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.8% | 49 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.2% | 23 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 22 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 4 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 55 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 38 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 5 | Switch | 17 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
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 | 13.1% | 134 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.0% | 113 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 39 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 28 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.2% | 23 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 15 |
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 | 217 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 609 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 184 | 10.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 132 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 371 | 8.1% |
| 2025 | 500 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Vitz
On a 2013 Vitz, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.8% 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.
- Tyres (2.2% 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 Toyota Vitzs pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 1,025 2013 Toyota Vitz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Toyota Vitz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by suspension (4.8%).
Does the 2013 Vitz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 10.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,025 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.