2013 Vauxhall Combo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Vauxhall Combo passed 72.5% of its 23,552 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 24.2% of the time, so this is 3.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.6%) and lighting & signalling (15.6%) 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 pins and bushes — coil spring alone was recorded 2,123 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.8% in the 0-30k band and 29.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.6% | 4,150 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 3,681 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.9% | 1,613 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 1,306 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.3% | 1,241 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,066 |
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 | 2,123 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,134 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,042 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 965 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 952 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 923 |
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 | 29.5% | 6,944 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.7% | 6,041 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.1% | 4,015 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 3,078 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 3,034 |
| 6 | Visibility | 10.8% | 2,552 |
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 | 357 | 16.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,260 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,757 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 7,351 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 5,180 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 2,634 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,370 | 26.5% |
| 2022 | 5,155 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 4,938 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 4,380 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 3,709 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Combo
On a 2013 Combo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.6% 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 (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.9% 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 Vauxhall Combos pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 23,552 2013 Vauxhall Combo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Vauxhall Combo?
Suspension, recorded in 17.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.6%).
Does the 2013 Combo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.8% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,552 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.