2013 Vauxhall Astra — MOT failures & pass rate
368,677 MOT tests on the 2013 Vauxhall Astra are in this dataset, and 79.1% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (19.3% fail rate), the 2013 Astra comes out 1.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.7%) and suspension (8.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 28,722 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.1% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.2% fail against 21.8% for diesel, a 1.5-point gap across 368,668 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 32,161 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.7% | 31,914 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.1% | 22,431 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.9% | 21,749 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 15,160 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 10,963 |
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 | 28,722 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13,443 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 12,938 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 11,908 |
| 5 | Washers | 10,703 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 10,038 |
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 | 29.9% | 110,410 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.7% | 83,488 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 47,972 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 42,110 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.7% | 39,516 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 24,200 |
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 | 8,779 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 76,682 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 139,199 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 91,438 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 35,689 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 16,711 | 25.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 199,526 | 20.2% |
| Diesel | 169,142 | 21.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77,071 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 76,260 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 75,066 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 71,995 | 21.3% |
| 2025 | 68,285 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Astra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.7% 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.
- Brakes (6.1% 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 Astras pass their MOT?
79.1% of the 368,677 2013 Vauxhall Astra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Vauxhall Astra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by suspension (8.7%).
Does the 2013 Astra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 368,677 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.