2013 Vauxhall Meriva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 50,175 MOT tests, the 2013 Vauxhall Meriva recorded a 78.3% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 20.9%, so the 2013 Meriva sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.1% of all tests — 7.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 6,573 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.0% in the 0-30k band and 35.1% in the 150k+ band, a 21.1-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (24.3% vs 21.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.1% | 6,568 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 2,929 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.7% | 2,838 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.9% | 1,971 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,567 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 1,345 |
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 | 6,573 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,773 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,307 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,064 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 875 |
| 6 | Wipers | 853 |
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 | 27.9% | 13,979 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.0% | 9,537 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.4% | 7,245 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.2% | 6,619 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.4% | 5,212 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 3,512 |
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 | 3,988 | 14.0% |
| 30-60k | 20,573 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 18,239 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 5,907 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,134 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 276 | 35.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 41,653 | 21.2% |
| Diesel | 8,522 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,169 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 10,293 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 10,313 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 9,820 | 22.0% |
| 2025 | 9,580 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Meriva
On a 2013 Meriva, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.1% 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 (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 Merivas pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 50,175 2013 Vauxhall Meriva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Vauxhall Meriva?
Suspension, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.8%).
Does the 2013 Meriva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 0-30k band to 35.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,175 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.