2013 Volkswagen Amarok — MOT failures & pass rate
11,134 MOT tests on the 2013 Volkswagen Amarok are in this dataset, and 81.0% of them passed. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 3.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (9.7%) and lighting & signalling (9.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — service brake performance alone was recorded 461 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.4% in the 0-30k band and 21.9% in the 150k+ band, a 10.6-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 18.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.7% | 1,083 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 1,040 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.1% | 679 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 318 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 287 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.5% | 283 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 461 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 392 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 353 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 343 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 321 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 276 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.7% | 2,087 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.8% | 1,978 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.6% | 1,512 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 728 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 682 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 662 |
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 | 44 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 633 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,393 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,274 | 18.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,595 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 2,191 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,312 | 17.7% |
| 2022 | 2,270 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 2,223 | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 2,193 | 20.2% |
| 2025 | 2,136 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Amarok
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 9.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (9.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.1% 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.
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 Volkswagen Amaroks pass their MOT?
81.0% of the 11,134 2013 Volkswagen Amarok MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Amarok?
Brakes, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.3%).
Does the 2013 Amarok get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,134 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.