2013 Vauxhall Corsa — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Vauxhall Corsa passed 76.2% of its 481,376 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 21.0% of the time, so this is 2.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.0%) and suspension (11.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, stop lamp and headlamp — coil spring alone was recorded 40,611 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.1% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.7% of the time against 24.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 67,146 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.2% | 53,979 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 29,126 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.9% | 23,683 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.7% | 22,485 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 18,571 |
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 | 40,611 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 26,096 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 19,262 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 18,696 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 18,411 |
| 6 | Washers | 17,827 |
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 | 27.5% | 132,539 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.7% | 109,234 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.7% | 80,426 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.5% | 50,620 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 45,828 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.9% | 38,085 |
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 | 28,306 | 16.6% |
| 30-60k | 168,448 | 22.0% |
| 60-90k | 188,209 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 75,192 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 17,037 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 4,096 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 425,761 | 23.7% |
| Diesel | 55,597 | 24.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 100,602 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 99,106 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 98,365 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 93,715 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 89,588 | 24.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Corsa
On a 2013 Corsa, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.2% 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 (6.0% 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 Corsas pass their MOT?
76.2% of the 481,376 2013 Vauxhall Corsa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Vauxhall Corsa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by suspension (11.2%).
Does the 2013 Corsa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.6% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 481,376 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.