2013 Vauxhall Cascada — MOT failures & pass rate
4,755 MOT tests on the 2013 Vauxhall Cascada are in this dataset, and 81.6% of them passed. That is 3.8 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 14.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (8.4%) and tyres (5.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, brake pads and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 426 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.9% versus 7.6%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (19.7% vs 16.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.4% | 400 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 268 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.7% | 225 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 220 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 134 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 61 |
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 | 426 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 170 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 142 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 115 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 91 |
| 6 | Washers | 75 |
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 | 26.8% | 1,272 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 972 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.0% | 475 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.2% | 344 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 324 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 145 |
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 | 304 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,727 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,720 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 737 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 208 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 56 | 17.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,865 | 19.7% |
| Petrol | 1,890 | 16.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 982 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 947 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 977 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 926 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 923 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Cascada
On a 2013 Cascada, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.4% 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 (5.6% 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.
- Brakes (4.7% 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 Cascadas pass their MOT?
81.6% of the 4,755 2013 Vauxhall Cascada MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Vauxhall Cascada?
Suspension, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2013 Cascada get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.6% in the 0-30k band to 17.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,755 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.