2013 Volkswagen High Up — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Volkswagen High Up passed 88.1% of its 875 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 20.2% of the time, so this is 8.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.9%) and lighting & signalling (4.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.2% once past 90-120k — 3.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.9% | 43 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 39 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 24 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 23 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 20 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.3% | 20 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 31 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 28 |
| 4 | Wipers | 16 |
| 5 | Fuel cap/sealing device | 16 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 12 |
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 | 25.1% | 220 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.9% | 165 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.9% | 69 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.2% | 63 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 26 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 23 |
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 | 171 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 374 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 195 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 112 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 164 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 173 | 9.8% |
| 2023 | 181 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 182 | 13.7% |
| 2025 | 175 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a 2013 High Up
On a 2013 High Up, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (4.9% 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 (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.7% 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 Volkswagen High Ups pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 875 2013 Volkswagen High Up MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Volkswagen High Up?
Brakes, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.5%).
Does the 2013 High Up get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 875 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.