2013 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle passed 77.0% of its 28,433 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.8 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 21.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.1%) and suspension (9.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, pins and bushes and coil spring — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 2,107 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.8% versus 13.8%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.6% of the time against 23.4% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 2,862 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.9% | 2,826 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.1% | 1,445 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.3% | 1,232 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 1,016 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 748 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 2,107 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,979 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,095 |
| 4 | Joints | 1,025 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 742 |
| 6 | Wipers | 579 |
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 | 28.0% | 7,958 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.3% | 5,486 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.2% | 4,878 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.5% | 1,572 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 1,346 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 1,268 |
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 | 1,830 | 13.8% |
| 30-60k | 10,191 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 10,799 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,288 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 998 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 284 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,615 | 22.6% |
| Diesel | 13,818 | 23.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,581 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 5,644 | 22.3% |
| 2023 | 5,727 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 5,759 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 5,722 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Beetle
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.9% 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.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 Volkswagen Beetles pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 28,433 2013 Volkswagen Beetle MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by suspension (9.9%).
Does the 2013 Beetle get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,433 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.