2013 Vauxhall Adam — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 48,553 MOT tests, the 2013 Vauxhall Adam recorded a 77.5% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 19.1% of the time, so this is 3.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests against 6.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, shock absorbers and track rod end — coil spring alone was recorded 3,528 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.1% versus 15.1%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.7% | 6,626 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 3,131 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.8% | 2,307 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.6% | 2,238 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 1,913 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 1,388 |
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 | 3,528 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 2,931 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 1,336 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,231 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,126 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,049 |
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 | 29.6% | 14,390 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.8% | 13,484 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.4% | 7,500 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 3,636 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.0% | 3,375 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 1,903 |
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 | 3,726 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 20,039 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 18,371 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 5,468 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 807 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 137 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,754 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 9,687 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 9,849 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 9,671 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 9,592 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Adam
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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 Vauxhall Adams pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 48,553 2013 Vauxhall Adam MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Vauxhall Adam?
Suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.5%).
Does the 2013 Adam get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 0-30k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 48,553 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.