2013 Vauxhall Movano — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Vauxhall Movano passed 81.5% of its 1,282 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.1 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 24.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.0% of all tests — 4.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 71 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 20.1% versus 12.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% 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% | 179 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 125 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.1% | 66 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 60 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.0% | 51 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.6% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 71 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 57 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 57 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 44 |
| 5 | Wipers | 38 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 34 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.3% | 375 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.5% | 212 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 180 |
| 4 | Suspension | 13.7% | 175 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.2% | 79 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 71 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 111 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 271 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 270 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 268 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 329 | 20.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 217 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 245 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 242 | 16.5% |
| 2024 | 291 | 20.3% |
| 2025 | 287 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Movano
On a 2013 Movano, 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.
- Brakes (9.8% 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.
- Visibility (5.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Movanos pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 1,282 2013 Vauxhall Movano MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Vauxhall Movano?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by brakes (9.8%).
Does the 2013 Movano get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.6% in the 30-60k band to 20.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,282 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.