2013 Volkswagen Crafter — MOT failures & pass rate
3,219 MOT tests on the 2013 Volkswagen Crafter are in this dataset, and 77.1% of them passed. That is 1.8 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 24.7%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 15.5% of tests against 11.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), rigid brake pipes and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 270 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.4% versus 11.5%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 37.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.5% | 500 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 381 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.5% | 146 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 120 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 119 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.9% | 93 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 270 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 221 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 145 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 113 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 111 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 104 |
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 | 37.3% | 1,202 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.3% | 653 |
| 3 | Other defects | 19.4% | 625 |
| 4 | Tyres | 15.8% | 510 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 360 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.1% | 261 |
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 | 52 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 204 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 579 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 732 | 21.3% |
| 120-150k | 763 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 887 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 486 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 598 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 624 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 781 | 23.2% |
| 2025 | 730 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Crafter
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.5% 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 (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.5% 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 Crafters pass their MOT?
77.1% of the 3,219 2013 Volkswagen Crafter MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen Crafter?
Brakes, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.8%).
Does the 2013 Crafter get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,219 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.